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Investigation Of Photoinduced Polymerization Of Doxycycline-Imprinted Hydrogels: Effect Of Template On Initiator Reactivity, Conversion, And Reaction Rate, Di̇lek Dalgakiran, Tuğçe İnan, Fatma Seni̇ha Güner

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Photopolymerization kinetics of doxycycline hyclate (DOX)-imprinted hydrogels were monitored by real-time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential photocalorimetry. 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate-based hydrogels were synthesized by using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross-linker, acrylic acid (AA) as a functional monomer, and 2,2-dimethyl-2-hydroxy acetophenone as a photoinitiator. For imprinting DOX in hydrogels, the molar ratio of template to functional monomer (DOX:AA) was chosen as 1:8 and 1:16. The polymerization was achieved at two different initiator concentrations. The conversion and reaction rate were calculated as a function of the molar ratio of template, and the results were compared to those of nonimprinted ones. In …

A Simple And Effective Method For Determination Of The Antithyroid Drug Carbimazole Using Ruthenium Trichloride, Mukul Sharma, Afraim Koty, Abdul Jabbar Al Rajab

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

An accurate, precise, and simple spectrophotometric method is proposed for the determination of the antithyroid drug carbimazole using ruthenium(III) chloride. This method is based on the formation at room temperature of a stable yellow-colored complex with λ$_{max}$ 370 nm. The method has a Beer's law range of 7.81 to 1.95 $\times $ 10$^{2}$ $\mu $g mL$^{-1}$, molar absorptivity coefficient $\varepsilon =$ 1.519 $\times $ 10$^{3}$ L mol$^{-1}$ cm$^{-1}$, and correlation coefficient of 0.997. The metal:ligand (M:L) ratio of the complex was confirmed by the mole ratio and Job's method of continuous variation, suggesting a 1:2 stoichiometry. The formed carbimazole:Ru(III) complex …

Adsorption Of Copper Ions And Alizarin Red S From Aqueous Solutions Onto A Polymeric Nanocomposite In Single And Binary Systems, Omnia Ali, Sahar Mohamed

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Adsorption of Cu(II) ions and alizarin red S (ARS) has been studied using beads of chitosan (CS) and a chitosan/ZnO nanorod composite (CS-ZnO) in single and binary systems. The beads were synthesized and characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Factors affecting adsorption of Cu(II) ions and ARS such as pH and initial concentrations as well as adsorption kinetics, isotherms, thermodynamics, reusability, and competitive adsorption in binary systems were studied. The results showed that the adsorption kinetics and isotherm data for both adsorbates followed a pseudo-second-order model …

Acceptance And Commitment Therapy As A Treatment For Anxiety And Depression: A Review, Michael P. Twohig, Michael E. Levin

Psychology Faculty Publications

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a modern form of cognitive behavioral therapy based on a distinct philosophy (functional contextualism) and basic science of cognition (relational frame theory). This article reviews the core features of ACT’s theoretical model of psychopathology and treatment as well as its therapeutic approach. It then provides a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating ACT for depression and anxiety disorders. Summarizing across a total of 36 RCTs, ACT appears to be more efficacious than waitlist conditions and treatment-as-usual, with largely equivalent effects relative to traditional cognitive behavioral therapy. Evidence from several trials also indicate …

The Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Matrix Mobile App: A Pilot Randomized Trial On Health Behaviors, Michael E. Levin, Benjamin G. Pierce, Benjamin Schoendorff

Psychology Faculty Publications

Mobile apps provide a promising format for delivering acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to improve diet/exercise. This pilot trial evaluated a novel ACT-based app for health behaviors based on the matrix approach. A sample of 23 community adults were randomly assigned to use the app for two weeks or to a waitlist condition. Findings indicated a high degree of satisfaction with the app and acceptable adherence. Although the intent-to-treat sample indicated few intervention effects, when focusing on program engagers only, health behaviors significantly improved in the app condition relative to waitlist. There were no differences between conditions on valued action …

Instructional Strategies Of Effective Mathematics Teachers Of African American Upper Elementary Students, Susan Warthen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

National assessments have revealed that African American students do not demonstrate proficiency in mathematics to the same degree as their White counterparts; however, some teachers are able to guide their African American students to mathematics success. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to determine the instructional strategies of teachers who have been successful in promoting mathematics achievement in African American students. This study was guided by a single research question that focused on the instructional strategies used by teachers whose African American upper elementary students demonstrated proficiency in mathematics on a state standardized test. Feuerstein's mediated learning experience …

Exploring Strategies For Implementing Data Governance Practices, Ashley Cave

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Data governance reaches across the field of information technology and is increasingly important for big data efforts, regulatory compliance, and ensuring data integrity. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore strategies for implementing data governance practices. This study was guided by institutional theory as the conceptual framework. The study's population consisted of informatics specialists from a small hospital, which is also a research institution in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. This study's data collection included semi structured, in-depth individual interviews (n = 10), focus groups (n = 3), and the analysis of organizational documents (n = 19). …

Assessing The Influence Of Smart Mobile Devices On How Employees Work, Adam L. Gorski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The smart mobile device market penetration reached 50% and has been increasing an average of 39% per year in the United States. More than 70% of the smart mobile device owners use such devices for personal and work activities. The problem was the lack of management's understanding of the effect smart mobile device use has on how employees work when they are in the office, while traveling, or during the off-hours to improve productivity and customer service. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand why, when, and how employees used smart mobile devices. The transformational technology conceptual framework …

Aluminum Production Costs: A Comparative Case Study Of Production Strategy, Joseph Nloga Ndjebayi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Slumping world aluminum prices have energized some aluminum producers to institute strategies to reduce product costs. This multiple comparative case study explored the strategies used by 4 aluminum producers in Western Europe: 2 companies that have successfully reduced production costs and 2 companies that have not. Wicksteed's economic theory of production and production costs was the conceptual framework for this research. Data from the companies' strategic and industry reports and from interviews with 32 senior managers were analyzed using pattern finding and clustering, a recursive approach to data gathering and analysis established by Miles, Huberman, and Saldana. Six themes emerged: …

Strategies For Mitigating Low-Cost Airlines' Passenger Complaints, Michael Jay Price

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Representatives of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that passenger complaints filed for the first quarter of 2015 were up 14.4% over the same period of the previous year. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies for mitigating low-cost airlines' passenger complaints. Porter's generic strategies provided the conceptual framework for this research study. Data were collected from 3 ground service managers employed by a low-cost airline in Florida using semistructured interview questions, direct observation, field notes, and review of the airline's website and public documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange …

A Complex Systems Simulation Study For Increasing Adaptive-Capacity, Kadambari Ram

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Examination of empirical research confirmed that climate change is a complex problem of anthropological origin and revealed the need for a management framework to facilitate strategic decisions aimed at mitigating a rise in global temperatures of 2-°C linked to irresponsible and unsustainable business practices. The purpose of this simulation study was to develop a management framework of resilience, robustness, sustainability, and adaptive-capacity (RRSA) for organizations viewed as complex systems to address the current unsustainable state. As such, the evolutionary-RRSA prisoner's dilemma (PD) simulation was developed using an evolutionary game theory approach to agent based modeling and simulation, to generate data. …

Cultural Sensitivity In The Performance-Based Learning Environment, Monique Matleen Hazzard-Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Georgia Department of Education requires students to earn 4 course credits in the area of mathematics in order to graduate from high school. Academic success for mathematics students in a school district in southern Georgia has been encumbered because teachers lack cultural competency in mathematics instruction, which has hindered minority students from developing reasoning, critical analysis, and problem-solving skills needed to earn these required math credits. The purpose of this project study was to examine teachers' perceptions of using culturally relevant teaching strategies to influence the academic performance of minority students in the mathematics classroom. The conceptual framework was …

Analysis Of Affective State As Covariate In Human Gait Identification, Kofi Agyemang Adumata

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is an increased interest in the need for a noninvasive and nonintrusive biometric identification and recognition system such as Automatic Gait Identification (AGI) due to the rise in crime rates in the US, physical assaults, and global terrorism in public places. AGI, a biometric system based on human gait, can recognize people from a distance and current literature shows that AGI has a 95.75% success rate in a closely controlled laboratory environment. Also, this success rate does not take into consideration the effect of covariate factors such as affective state (mood state); and literature shows that there is a …

Teacher-Based Teams Talk Of Change In Instructional Practices, David Dewitt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mandates have been issued for educators to collaborate and improve student achievement, requiring a change in instructional practices through teacher talk. Teachers have struggled to make the transitional conversion from team planning to observed changes in instructional practices with evidence of improvement. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how teachers collaborated while following the Ohio Improvement Process. The purpose was then to make data-driven changes regarding instructional practices in the continuous improvement cycle. The conceptual framework was constructed from the teachers' dialogic stances towards talk of instruction, along with the intellectual and emotional attitudes teachers have about …

Knowledge And Barriers To Safe Disposal Of Pharmaceutical Products Entering The Environment, Aldo Francesco Fidora

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The use of pharmaceutical products has steadily increased in the United States from 2 billion prescriptions in 1999 to 3.9 billion in 2009. Half of patients do not comply with the recommended prescription regimen and dispose of unused drugs in the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and many researchers have highlighted the human-health risks associated with improperly disposing of pharmaceutical products. This quantitative cross-sectional study examined the potential correlations between people's actual disposal practices and their knowledge of the impact of disposal practices on the environment and human health, and availability of disposal options. The conceptual framework selected for …

A Study Of Fourth-Grade Students' Perceptions On Homework Environment And Academic Motivation In Mathematics, Stefanie Harmon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem at an elementary school is teachers' lack of knowledge and information on the perceptions and motivation of students to complete independent mathematics homework. The purpose of this study was to identify students' perceptions regarding their homework environment and academic motivation in mathematics. The study's conceptual framework, attribution theory, supported the examination of drivers of motivation for participants related to homework completion. Guiding research questions, supported by Keller's ARCS model, focused on the identification of students' perceptions of homework attention, relevance, curiosity, satisfaction, and their preferred homework environment. This qualitative research study obtained data from semistructured interviews with 44 …

Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of Mathematics Instruction In Montessori And Traditional Classrooms, Linda Kofa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Students in grades 3 and 4 attending a traditional public elementary school in a northeastern state did not meet proficiency levels in mathematics as measured by the state's assessment system. Published reports indicated that students attending the Montessori programs were more proficient in solving math problems compared to students in traditional schools. However, researchers had not compared Montessori and traditional teachers' perceptions of teaching elementary mathematics. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions of traditional and Montessori teachers regarding teaching basic problem solving skills in mathematics. Koehler and Grouws' model provided the theoretical framework. …

Relationship Between The California Drought And Almond Demand, Wayne E. Lacy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Areas of California's Central Valley are sinking at rates up to 1 foot per year due to subsidence caused, in part, by the state's years-long drought, challenging growers to locate additional water sources for their crops. Supply and demand theory guided this correlational study. The purpose of the study was to examine the financial impact of drought on almond demand. This study included annualized historical almond industry data for the United States (N = 97), downloaded from a United States Department of Agriculture database. The results of multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the model was capable of predicting almond …

Effects Of A Tier 2 Intervention In Eighth Grade English Classes, Tara Roane

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many school administrators in the United States continue to struggle with students not meeting the pass rate on statewide assessments. This study examined the effectiveness of a Tier 2 reading intervention, the Wilson Reading System (WRS) that was implemented at a local Virginia school for 1 semester to address the low pass rate on the statewide reading assessments. The framework for this study was based on the multi-tiered systems of support and the response to intervention model. A quasi-experimental pre-post research design was used to examine the differences on two reading assessments after completing the 16-week WRS program. A multivariate …

Exploring Strategies For Successful Implementation Of Electronic Health Records, Richard Alton Warren

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adoption of electronic health records (EHR) systems in nonfederal acute care hospitals has increased, with adoption rates across the United States reaching as high as 94%. Of the 330 plus acute care hospital EHR implementations in Texas, only 31% have completed attestation to Stage 2 of the meaningful use (MU) criteria. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that hospital chief information officers (CIOs) used for the successful implementation of EHR. The target population consists of 3 hospitals CIOs from a multi-county region in North Central Texas who successfully implemented EHRs meeting Stage 2 MU criteria. …

Effective Competitive Strategies Of U.S. In Vitro Device Manufacturers, Sofia M. Beglari

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medical manufacturing leaders struggle to maintain their competitive position due to inefficient business strategies. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that in vitro diagnostics (IVD) medical manufacturing's leaders have used to gain and maintain a competitive advantage in the global marketplace. Porter's competitive advantage theory was used to understand how IVD medical business leaders maintain their competitive edge. Data were gathered through interviews with a purposive sample of 3 IVD medical device leaders from companies in California, Connecticut, and New York who had run IVD medical businesses for at least 10 years and who attended …

Strategies To Reduce Employee Turnover For Frontline Cashiers In The Retail Business, Egypt K. Grandison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee turnover is 1 of the most significant concerns for organizations because it involves loss of investments and increased costs of hiring, training, and replacement. The turnover rate in the U.S. retail industry is relatively high at 60% for full-time employees, and this rate continues to increase rapidly. The purpose of this case study was to explore the retention strategies retail managers in big-box retail stores use to decrease frontline cashier turnover. Using Herzberg's two-factor hygiene theory, as the conceptual framework, the study was conducted with a sample of 8 retail managers, located in Huntsville, Alabama, who have decreased frontline …

Strategies Small Business Owners Use For Long-Term Existence, Sherman Eldridge Humphrey Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

More than 90 of every 100 new businesses fail within 5 years. The need to explore ongoing strategies that provide low-cost alternatives can prove invaluable to cash-strapped new business owners. Exploration of relationships among a group of stakeholders essential to business success provided data in this case study. Those stakeholders include the owner, the customer service personnel and the consumer. Without the consumer, all other business activities would cease to be necessary. Five business owners and five employees from Redding, California participated in 2 separate focus group interviews. The conceptual framework for this case study was to explore the specific …

Intermediate Teachers' Perceptions Of Reading Instruction Strategies And Professional Development Needs, Barbara Jean Joyner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 1 urban Tennessee school, students in Grades 3 through 5 had not met adequate yearly progress in reading for the past 5 years. The purpose of this case study was to explore teachers' perceptions of current district-recommended teaching practice in reading. The research questions related to current instructional strategies, teaching practices, challenges, and perceptions of current instructional strategies and changes needed to improve students' reading achievement. This study was grounded in the constructivist theoretical framework of Vygotsky. Twelve educators from Grades 3 through 5 and a reading specialist participated in this study. The data were collected from interviews, minutes …

Reflector Magazine, Georgia Southern University, Student Media

Reflector Magazine

• Gnat's Landing: A Place You'll Always Want To Come Back To
• Food For Thought
• A Town For Recovery
• Basics of Birth Control
• Hop Into This Spring's New Trends
• Basics of Birth Control
• Hop Into This Spring's New Trends
• Kratom: The Lesser-Known Herb Fighting for Equality
• Traveling in Your 20's
• Career Tips For College Students
• Paying the Price for Higher Education
• Pros vs. Cons: A Glance at Business vs Liberal Arts Degrees
• Underground Statesboro
• The Art of Fiction: The Importance and Relevance of Political Media

Nursing Approaches For Use And Sustainability Of Barcode Medication Administration Technology, Jackson Ngigi Njeru

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 43.4% of medication errors occur at the time of administration despite the use of bar code medication administration (BCMA) System. This trend has prompted a national effort to mitigate this problem in the United States. Implementing BCMA in health care settings is one of those efforts. Studies focusing on the approaches employed by nurses when using this system are scant. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate strategies nurses and their leaders use to ensure BCMA is implemented, maximized, and sustained. The technology acceptance model was used to guide the study. The 2 research questions addressed …

Posthurricane Environment's Impact On Childhood Cancer Rates In Louisiana, 2004-2010, Lenora M. Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood cancer is the second leading cause of death in children aged 0-19 years. Research efforts to identify factors associated with or influencing this growing health problem are limited. The purpose of this research study was to examine, in reference to Louisiana during the period 2004-2010, the annual number of children diagnosed with cancer; the types of cancers; the possible effects of the environmental aftermath resulting from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Gustav; and any correlation between environmental contaminants following these hurricanes with the number of children diagnosed with cancer. This study employed correlational quantitative methodology using archival data from the …

Impact Of Childcare Center Programs On Reading Achievement Of English Language Learner Students, Valerie Keil

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some children struggle to learn the academic skill of reading. Providing effective assistance to struggling students, especially to English Language Learners (ELLs), can be a challenge for teachers. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of childcare programs on the reading achievement of ELLs in kindergarten and first grade. Vygotsky's sociocultural theory along with developmentally appropriate practices constituted the theoretical framework. The overarching research question examined differences in overall reading achievement of ELLs based on the completion of formal childcare programs. A causal-comparative design was used with a cluster sample drawn from a United States federal database …

A Program Evaluation Of Check And Connect For Successful School Completion, Nicole Riggans-Curtis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School leaders at an urban public high school implemented the Check and Connect (C&C) program to improve student engagement outcomes for at-risk students in 2010-2011. No formal program evaluation of C&C had been conducted in the 2012-2013, 2013-2014, and 2014-2015 school years to show whether the program was effective. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between successful school completion and participation in the C&C program. A quantitative, quasi-experimental program evaluation was conducted to determine whether C&C's student-related variables including cohort, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and truancy predicted students' successful school completion. Archival data of students eligible …

Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of Teaching Science To Improve Student Content Knowledge, Robert Louis Stephenson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The majority of Grade 5 students demonstrate limited science knowledge on state assessments. This trend has been documented since 2010 with no evidence of improvement. Because state accountability formulas include proficiency scores and carry sanctions against districts that fail to meet proficiency thresholds, improved student performance in science is an important issue to school districts. The purpose of this study was to explore elementary teachers' perceptions about their students' science knowledge, the strategies used to teach science, the barriers affecting science teaching, and the self-efficacy beliefs teachers maintain for teaching science. This study, guided by Vygotsky's social constructivist theory and …