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Maintaining High Performance Across All Problem Sizes And Parallel Scales Using Microkernel-Based Linear Algebra, Md Rakib Hasan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Linear algebra underlies a large proportion of computational problems. With the continuous increase of scale on modern hardware, performance of small sized linear algebra has become increasingly important. To overcome the shortcomings of conventional approaches, we employ a new approach using a microkernel framework provided by ATLAS to improve the performance of a few linear algebra routines for all problem sizes. Our initial research consists of improving the performance of parallel LU factorization in ATLAS for which we were able to achieve up to 2.07x and 2.66x speedup for small problems, up to 91% and 87% of theoretical peak performance …

The Effects Of A Yoga Intervention On Motor Skills In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Morgan K. Wright

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display a range of motor delays and deficits that may contribute to ASD symptoms, including social and communicative skills and repetitive and stereotyped behaviors. Limited motor abilities may result in a less physically active lifestyle and engagement in more sedentary behavior. Few studies have examined the effects of physical activity based motor interventions on motor skills. Yoga interventions can be used to teach gross motor skills by providing explicit instruction using behavioral principles. Several studies suggest that yoga may also improve social and communicative skills and behavior problems; however, these studies have not systematically …

An Ecojustice Analysis Of Nursing Education, Kristi Jo Wilson

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The concept health is constructed within socioeconomic, political, cultural, and ecological contexts that affect how personnel in the medical and nursing fields practice. The idea of health and its associated practices in Western countries has arisen from modernist discourses such as mechanism and rationalism, which further support a capitalist economic system that stresses efficiency, specialization, and volume for profit. In Western industrial cultures in particular, health is primarily driven by consumerism and market forces and is generally defined within two categories: wellness and illness.

To explore this concept further, I interviewed seven nurse scholars who see health in a different …

Development And Validation Of A Measure Of Cybersexual Addiction, Monica M. Lackups-Fuentes

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Sexual addiction has long been a controversial topic, and it has become no less tendentious with its latest incarnation as Internet cybersexual addiction, i.e., the addiction to sexual materials on the Internet. As cybersexual addiction is a relatively recent phenomenon, it is important to have adequate measures to assess the behavior and provide empirical support for diagnostic criteria. While a number of measures are used in the research, none of the measures are based on the currently proposed diagnostic criteria. This study aimed to develop a new measure of cybersexual addiction based on the proposed hypersexual disorder diagnostic criteria and …

Contradictions And Control: Michigan Elementary Teachers' Lived Experiences Of Legislated Teacher Evaluation, Kathryn N. Coffey

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The Michigan Teacher Quality and Tenure Reform bill was signed into law in July 2011. The law mandated specific requirements for annual performance evaluation of all teachers and prohibited teacher evaluation as a subject of collective bargaining. The purpose of this phenomenological, collective case study was to describe the lived experiences of Michigan elementary teachers in traditional public schools as they experienced the phenomenon of having their performance evaluated under this state-legislated teacher evaluation policy, to understand the meanings they ascribed to the phenomenon, and to synthesize those meanings to describe the essences of that experience.

Using semi-structured in-depth phenomenological …

Examining Teaching As Performance: A Study Of Developed Persona, Justin Hopper

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study explores teaching as performance in relation to Richard Schechner’s view on “performance in everyday life.” The focus of the investigation centered on why teachers in higher education develop teaching personas. The phenomenographic study used observation and interview to better understand the topic. The sample included nine lecturers from higher learning institutions in Southeast Michigan; data from field notes and audio recordings were used. Four of the lecturers taught or had professional experience with the performing arts. The correlation between those with performance backgrounds and those without was studied. Reasons for specific teaching personas being developed include the teacher’s …

Development Of Non-Formaldehyde Wrinkle Resistant Finishes For Cotton And Linen Using Carboxylic Acids, Preeto Arya

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study aims to develop and evaluate the wrinkle recovery performance of cotton and linen fabrics after treating them with an appropriate combination of mono and dicarboxylic acids in the presence of ingredients like an initiator and a catalyst. Therefore, an experimental study was developed with a 2x3x3 factorial design with the acid combination, pΗ, and concentration as the independent variables to help investigate the effects on wrinkle recovery angle, wrinkle recovery appearance rating, and carboxyl group content of the treated fabric samples. The data were analyzed based on the percent weight gain of treated samples, carboxyl ‘n’ group content, …

The Effect Of Organization Centralization, Organization Climate, Knowledge Management And Supply Chain Integration Perception On The Success Of Product Launch In The U.S. Automotive Industry, Raed Jalal Anabtawi

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study examines variables that may affect new product launches in the automotive industry. The automakers need to have capabilities to address product launch issues when converting their efforts into automotive products that meet consumer requirements. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of organization centralization, organizational climate, knowledge management, and supply chain integration perception on the success and effectiveness of a product launch. The survey samples consisted of 101 respondents from automotive companies. Organization centralization perception, where decisions are made solely by upper management, had no significant correlation to the success of product launch. Analysis of …

Professional Nursing Value Development In Nursing Students Who Participate In International Service Learning, Heather Ferrillo

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: International Service Learning (ISL) is becoming widely used in nursing education as a means to provide global learning opportunities. Concrete outcomes for these experiences have not been clearly supported in previous research. Determining if ISL experience facilitate the development of Professional Nursing Values (PNV) can support the use of ISL as a viable pedagogy. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine if there were a difference in PNV development in students who participate in ISL as part of their clinical experiences compared to those who do not. The hypothesis was that there was a difference in the …

Moving Beyond The Apple Orchard: The Institutional Analysis Of The Construction Of Washtenaw Community College, Julie M. Kissel

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to understand the institutional forces that constructed and shaped the function, nature of funding, and governance of Washtenaw Community College (WCC). To do this, I studied the founding and development of WCC using organizational theory. This qualitative, historical case study used archival research to identify themes and the institutional building blocks for the junior college movement at large and the transition of the junior college to the comprehensive community college in the 1950s and 1960s as it served to buffer and bridge the post-secondary world. This study discovered that WCC was not a grassroots …

Parent-Child Differences In Psychological Distress Following Childhood Cancer Treatment, Shelby A. Wilson

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

While the prognosis for pediatric cancer is improving, survivorship is accompanied by a number of potential long-term consequences. While not all childhood cancer survivors (CCS) and their parents experience psychological distress during survivorship, research does indicate that at least some do experience significant problems that warrant intervention. The current study was a retrospective analysis of an existing cross-sectional dataset that examined associations between psychological distress and other late effects in CCS and their parents. Neurocognitive late effects (NCLE) and parent/child distress were found to predict both parent and child psychological distress. Time since diagnosis was found to be related to …

Using Schools To Watch Program's Self-Study And Rating Rubric To Examine Middle-Grades Education In An Urban District, Arnetta P. Thompson

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between multiple characteristics of high-performing middle schools as identified in the schools to watch rubric and how those characteristics as well as grade configurations may affect students’ progression through their first year of high school. A student’s middle level experience strongly impacts the odds of graduating from high school. This is especially true of urban districts with a high-poverty student population. This study was conducted in such a district. Middle level education is supposed to serve as a catalyst of sorts to prepare students for high school, yet the current …

Assessment Of Family Impact In Pediatric Chronic Pain, Lauren E. Harrison

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Pediatric chronic pain causes significant interference in daily functioning for children and their families. While parents and families have been examined in previous research, gaps exist in the current literature base, particularly related to accurate conceptualization and assessment of family functioning. The current study sought to develop a measure of family impact of pediatric pain and examine the effects that pain severity, functional disability, and parent and child psychosocial functioning have on family functioning. Results indicated parents of children with chronic pain appear to be impacted across several domains, with psychological distress in the child and parent being a significant …

A Study Of The Factors Involved And The Strategies Employed By Michigan School Districts In Developing Deficit Elimination Plans, Sue C. Carnell

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to study the factors that contribute to financial deficits, examine the strategies used to reduce deficits, and explore the barriers that may prohibit the reduction of financial deficits. As part of legislative mandates, school superintendents are faced with creating a deficit elimination plan to reduce the financial deficits facing their districts. In 2013, the State of Michigan began to shut down financially challenged districts for the first time. School districts labeled as “deficit districts” struggled to remove the designation assigned to them. Fifty-eight traditional Michigan public school districts with financial deficits between school years …

Applying The Health Belief Model To Michigan Motorcyclist Helmet Use, Emily Ann Vanwormer

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Helmets can offer significant injury protection to motorcyclists, yet usage is inconsistent across the United States. In 2012, the state of Michigan switched from a universal helmet law to partial helmet law. Michigan motorcyclists (n = 76) were recruited through two motorcycling events and two motorcycling social media pages to participate in an online survey that applied Health Belief Model constructs to examine attitudes and beliefs around the decision to wear or not wear a helmet. Significant differences in perceptions of Health Belief Model constructs were found between always-helmeted and not-always-helmeted respondents. Always-helmeted respondents reported significantly greater perceived susceptibility …

Inclusion, Community, And Social Relationships: A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Chloe Wilson

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Individuals who are ascribed the label of disability must face the stigma and assumptions of inability that it carries, and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are subjected to speculation that calls into question their capacity for reason, reflection, and morality. The purpose of this research was to explore the perspectives and experiences of adults with IDD and their family members. This study primarily focused on the ways in which participants create meaning around community and relationships in addition to examining the factors that inhibit or encourage inclusion and accessibility.

This phenomenological study examined the perspectives of five individuals—three …

An Exploration Of The Aspects Of Physical Activity And Exercise Motives That Confer Risk Versus Protection From Disordered Eating Outcomes, Megan Pejsa-Reitz

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

A long-standing health initiative has been the recommendation for individuals to engage in regular physical activity because of its numerous physical and mental health benefits. However, engaging in “excessive exercise” is a compensatory behavior found in eating disorders. The present study sought to better understand exercise as both a health- and risk-behavior. Undergraduates (N = 1010) completed an online survey assessing disordered eating and exercise behavior. Results revealed that among individuals who engaged in a low level of physical activity, exercising for socializing reasons conferred risk for disordered eating, whereas higher socializing exercise motives were associated with lower disordered …

Motor Functioning In Childhood Survivors Of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Kaitlin Oswald

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) can cause a multitude of neuropsychological sequelae, or late effects, in children following intensive medical treatment. Late effect research has focused primarily on non-motor related sequelae; however, recent studies have begun to highlight evident impairments in motor functioning during and following medical treatment. The following study aimed to further characterize multiple domains of motor functioning in children treated for ALL compared to healthy controls, as well as investigate the relationship between motor impairments and other areas of functioning, including academic and psychosocial. The study included a cross-sectional design with a sample of 13 children treated for …

A Study Of Alternative Education Seat Time Waiver Students In Michigan, Linden A. Moore

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

In September of 2007, the Michigan Department of Education introduced a program referred to as seat time waivers to a few school districts in Michigan to pilot. During the 2009- 2010 school year, 999 students were on seat time waivers with a total of 5070 classes taken by these students. While the number of online learners continues to grow exponentially, the levels of success are questionable.

This study investigates the reason why some students placed on seat time waivers find academic success while others do not. It compares the different academic characteristics the students self-report and identifies which of these …

A Case Study Of The Interactions Amongst The Elements Of An Elementary Teacher's Educational Belief System, Goals, Enactment, And Reflection, Phillip Pittman

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Contemporary educational reform has attempted to improve teaching quality and raise student achievement through high-stakes teacher evaluation and through the introduction of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). However, to advance teaching and learning, instructional leaders must shift their focus from teacher evaluation and the CCSS themselves to how teachers attempt to meet the CCSS in their classrooms through decisions about curriculum, instruction, and assessment and why they make those decisions. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study is to develop a deep understanding about the elements of, and interactions between, a fifth grade teacher’s educational belief system (consisting of …

Assessing Patient And Caregiver Intent To Use Mobile Device Videoconferencing For Remote Mechanically-Ventilated Patient Management, Brian R. Smith

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The Michigan Medicine adult Assisted Ventilation Clinic (AVC) supports patients with neuromuscular disorders and spinal cord injuries and their caregivers at home, helping them avoid expensive emergency department visits, hospitalization, and unnecessary or excessive treatments. Mobile device videoconferencing provides an effective capability for remote mechanically-ventilated patient management but must rely upon an unknown infrastructure comprising patient and caregiver mobile device ownership, connectivity, and experience—and intent to use the service if provided. The purpose of this study was to measure the extent of this infrastructure and the perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and intent to use this mobile device …

How Might Active Video Gaming Affect Physical Activity And Physical Fitness Of Students With Intellectual Disabilities?, Mark E. Davis

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

In the United States, there has been increasing concern about the obesity crisis. A large factor in this crisis is physical inactivity, which may have detrimental effects on an individual’s health. Participation in physical activity is essential to preventing and reducing obesity and may positively affect physical fitness. Researchers have begun to look at a newer form of video gaming called active video gaming (AVG), which is a physically interactive video game that helps individuals stand up and move. The purpose of this research study was to examine what effects active video gaming has on physical activity and physical fitness …

Patient’S Perception Of Cancer-Related Depression/Anxiety During Their Treatment, Nisha Devi Muthu Krishnan

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Patients with cancer are emotionally affected during their cancer treatment course. Sometimes, patient’s psychological issues are overlooked during the actual disease treatment. Cancer patients are at a higher risk of developing anxiety and depression (A&D). A presumptive diagnosis of anxiety and depression was assessed based on a useful tool, the 14 item Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Patient responses were assessed for the prevalence of anxiety and depression. In all, 102 patients were studied using the questionnaires of HADS. The demographic and clinical details were collected from patients. Breast cancer patients had the highest prevalence of anxiety (31.6%) and …

Intersectionality: A Critical Qualitative Exploration Of The Experiences Of Lgbtq Persons With Disabilities At The Collegiate Level, Amanda Bell

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study sought to contribute to the growing awareness surrounding the barriers, challenges, and needs of LGBTQ persons with disabilities at the collegiate level. The purpose of this research was to capture the lived experiences of LGBTQ persons with disabilities who were enrolled at postsecondary institutions throughout the United States. Currently, only a few studies have focused on these experiences. This critical qualitative study explored the experiences of LGBTQ persons with disabilities in higher education, specifically how their intersectional identities influenced their postsecondary experiences. The experiences of participants emphasized the roles that other people had in both their LGBTQ disabled …

The Anticancer Effects Of The Different Analogs Of Cysteine Deleted Tachyplesin On A549 Lung Cancer Cells, Nathan Riley Hendrickson

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

It has been previously shown that cysteine-deleted tachyplesin (CDT) and its many analogs display antibacterial effects. However, little has been said about its possible anticancer effects and which analogs serve as the best inhibitors of the growing cancer cells. This research focused on CDT and four of its analogs: All D-CDT, Reverse DCDT, Reverse CDT, and Serine-Control CDT. MTT assays against the A549 adenocarcinoma lung cancer cell line showed All D-CDT to be the most effective analog in preventing cancer cell growth. Hyaluronidase and apoptosis assays were performed to better understand the mechanism by which the All D-CDT is preventing …

An Examination Of Attribute Trade And Weight Stigma In Online Dating, Rachel Sienko

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Weight stigma refers to biased treatment or attitudes based on weight. This has been documented to occur in a variety of settings (including relationships) and can result in many negative consequences, but its impact in the contemporary online dating arena is largely unexplored. Therefore, Study 1 of this project examined who experiences weight stigma in online dating and what factors predicted weight stigma. It was hypothesized that a) women would be more likely than men to experience weight stigma; b) compassion, beliefs about obese persons, attitudes toward obese persons, social dominance orientation, narcissism, objectification, self-classification of overweight status, and internalized …

Comparison Of A Head Mounted Impact Measurement Device To The Hybrid Iii Anthropomorphic Testing Device In A Controlled Laboratory Setting, Eric Schussler, David Stark, John H. Bolte, Yun Seok Kang, James A. Onate

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Reports estimate that 1.6 to 3.8 million cases of concussion occur in sports and recreation each year in the United States. Despite continued efforts to reduce the occurrence of concussion, the rate of diagnosis continues to increase. The mechanisms of concussion are thought to involve linear and rotational head accelerations and velocities. One method of quantifying the kinematics experienced during sport participation is to place measurement devices into the athlete’s helmet or directly on the athlete’s head.

Purpose: The purpose of this research to determine the accuracy of a head mounted device for measuring the head accelerations experienced by …

Predictability Of Vo2max Using A Commercially Available Gps Sports Watch, Andrew Pearson

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Using accurate submaximal methodologies to estimate VO_2max is a convenient alternative to maximal exercise testing. Submaximal testing is practical because it provides a cheaper, more time-efficient method to determine VO_2max and allows a wider range of individuals to be tested. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the predictability of VO_2max using a GPS sports watch. Methods: Thirty participants, 16 males and 14 females between the ages of 18 and 55, volunteered for this study. A total of three separate VO_2max values were recorded during the study: (a) directly measured VO_2max, (b) …

Validating Non-Motivated Methods And Equipment For Studying Mouse Olfactory Behavior, Michael Andrew Dryden

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Mouse olfactory behavior has traditionally been difficult to assess due, in part, to the expensive nature of behavioral equipment and the lengthy process of training animals. The present study aims to validate a new behavioral paradigm requiring no prior animal training using existing liquid dilution behavioral olfactometers. We also aim to validate Triton-100x, a detergent, as a new anosmia inducing agent, as well as self-built, Do-it-yourself (DIY) behavioral olfactometers. Equipment and methods were tested using a variety of common-discrimination and detectionthreshold assays. Difficulties maintaining stimulus control arose during testing as mice routinely detected volume-to-volume concentrations of amyl acetate diluted in …

Parental Health, Parenting Behavior And Externalizing Behavior Problems Among Low-Income African American Preschool Children, Cassandra Lynn Esposito

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Externalizing behavior problems are highly prevalent in the preschool years. These behaviors are particularly common and problematic among children who are from low-income, minority backgrounds. There is evidence in the literature that describes parental health and parenting problems as risk factors for child externalizing behavior problems. The primary objective of this study was to better understand the relationship between parental health factors, parenting, and child behavior problems. Utilizing data from a low-income African American population, this study examined whether observed measures of parenting behaviors mediated the relationship between measures of parental health (e.g., depression, stress, and BMI) and child externalizing …