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Hablando De La Herida: Honoring Spanish-Speaking Parents’ Experiences Obtaining School-Based Speech And Language Services For Their Children, Amalia W. Hernández

LMU Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the experiences of Spanish-speaking Latino/a parents in their attempts to obtain school-based speech and language services for their children; the impact of these experiences on parents; and parent perspectives on how school-based speech-language pathologists can co-create collaborative relationships. Through a detailed analysis of a focus group and individual interviews of 31 Spanish-speaking parents of children in the REAAD! (Reaching Educational Achievement and Development) Literacy Enrichment Program at a university in Los Angeles, California, this study provided a space for parents to share their experiences and offer insights regarding what shaped their experiences. Through the theoretical lens of …

"Nevertheless, She Persisted": The Challenges And Opportunities Experienced By Novice Female Charter School Principals, Heather Mcmanus

LMU Theses and Dissertations

While education is typically considered a feminized field, educational administration has long been dominated by males. This dissertation examines the historical reasons for this gender paradox and explores the challenges and opportunities specifically for novice female charter school principals through the theoretical frameworks of organizational socialization and social role theory. The dissertation studied 7 novice female charter school principals within their first 3 years in the role and utilized a qualitative methodology with semistructured interviews, focus groups, and field notes as data sources. Findings indicate that it is still difficult to be considered a good leader and a good female. …

Transformative Urban Education Leaders In Los Angeles, Sarah Figueroa

LMU Theses and Dissertations

The job of an education system-level leader in urban environments is becoming more demanding, and the environment in which they operate more complex. Filling these very critical roles with individuals who possess the right characteristics could mean the difference between success and failure at improving the educational outcomes of students who are more often than not students of color and economically disadvantaged students.

Through seven interviews, this qualitative study focused on understanding the leadership dispositions that contributed to the success of transformative urban education system-level leaders in Los Angeles. The new transformative urban education leadership framework was developed using elements …

Genetic Variants Predicting Aerobic Capacity Response To Training Are Also Associated With Skeletal Muscle Oxidative Capacity In Moderate-To-Severe Copd, Alessandra Adami, Brian D. Hobss, Merry-Lynn N. Mcdonald, Ricard Casaburi, Harry B. Rossiter

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Muscle oxidative capacity is a major determinant of maximum oxygen uptake (V̇O_2max). V̇O_2max predicts survival in humans. Muscle oxidative capacity is low in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and can be assessed from the muscle oxygen consumption recovery rate constant (k) by near-infrared spectroscopy. We hypothesized that 11 SNPs, previously associated with the increase in V̇O_2max following exercise training, would correlate with k in 152 non-Hispanic White and African American smokers with and without COPD. Associations were adjusted for age, weight, FEV₁% predicted, steps/day, and principal components of genetic ancestry. No SNPs …

Exploring The Legacy Of Big Stargazing Events, Karen Masters, Jennifer A. Gupta, Wictoria Kedziora

Physics Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Antibacterial Nanoparticle - Decorated Carbon Nanotube - Reinforced Calcium Phosphate Composites As Bone Implants, Kiruthika Natesan

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a biologically active ceramic used in surgery to replace bone. While HA promotes bone growth, it suffers from weak mechanical properties and does not possess any antibacterial property. Multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), as one of the strongest and stiffest materials, have the potential to strengthen and toughen HA, thus expanding the range of clinical uses for the material. Furthermore, Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) can be decorated to sidewalls of the MWCNTs which could be released over a period of time to prevent infection following surgery. This work sought to develop and characterise Ag NPs- MWCNTs – …

Regulation Of Macrophage Subsets In Homeostatic And Inflammatory Mucosal Environments, Khalid Alshaghdali

Other Faculty of Health Theses

The interaction between epithelial cells and macrophages is integral to mucosal immune fate: determining the decision between tolerance and immune activation/inflammation. Endotoxin tolerisation (ET) is a circumstance where cells go through a hypo-responsive state, unable to respond to further endotoxin-LPS challenge. Mucosal macrophages (MΦs) have a dual functionality that determines tolerance to commensal organisms or immune response to entropathogens such as E. coli. In the case of mucosal inflammatory pathologies, such as Crohn’s disease, this state of tolerance is broken, resulting in destruction of gut mucosal tissue where the macrophage phenotype has been altered from a regulatory M2-like subset phenotype …

The Meaning And Process Of Engagement In Outdoor Adventure From An Occupational Science Perspective To Inform Health Promotion And Occupational Therapy Practice., Rosi Raine

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Background: Outdoor adventure can offer meaningful occupations that enhance health and wellbeing. Theory in relation to the meaning of outdoor adventure from an occupational science perspective, and the process by which people become engaged in occupation, is underdeveloped. Methodology: Phenomenological philosophy underpinned the methodology. Five elements are presented in this thesis, data were explored from: a systematic review and meta-synthesis of research exploring the meaning of outdoor adventure; focus groups exploring factors affecting sustained engagement in walking in a community context; adventure autobiographies as exemplars of engagement and outdoor culture; and interviews with participants who engaged in outdoor adventure. Concepts …

Commonalities And Differences In Visual And Auditory Multistability, Mihaela Taranu

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Perceptual bi/multi-stability—the phenomenon in which perceptual awareness switches between alternative interpretations of a stimulus—can be elicited by a large range of stimuli. The phenomenon is explored in vision, audition, touch, and even olfaction. The degree to which perceptual switching across visual and auditory bi/multi-stable paradigms depends on common or separate mechanisms remains unanswered. This main question was addressed in the current work by using four ambiguous tasks that give rise to bi/multi-stability and which are thought to involve rivalry at different levels of cognitive processing: auditory streaming and ambiguous-structure-from-motion (low- level tasks), and verbal transformations and ambiguous figures (high-level tasks). …

The Role Of Counterfactual Thinking In Deceptive Communication, Raluca Andra Briazu

Other Faculty of Health Theses

This thesis explores the proposal that there is a close link between counterfactual thinking and lying. Although both require the imagination of alternatives to reality, research has yet to establish a direct link. In the first seven studies the relationship between counterfactuals and lies is directly investigated using novel scenario-based and behavioural tasks. In a further four studies we also investigate the role of affect and executive functions as explanatory mechanisms. Results show that individuals with a tendency to think counterfactually are more likely to generate potential lies and to be more successful when lying in front of others (Study …

Shared Creativity And Flow In Dance Improvisation Practice, Klara Lucznik

Other Faculty of Health Theses

This thesis investigated shared creative processes and the role of flow experience in group dance improvisation. A literature review suggested that dancers associate high-quality performance with 'being in the flow', and that group flow is a peak experience when a group is performing at its highest level. The first study explored the role of flow in dance creative practice and improvisation through qualitative content analysis of individual interviews with six dancers. Absorption with activity and enjoyment were themes in dancers' reports of flow. Group improvisation facilitated flow and creativity through maintaining desired focus for longer, lowering self-judgment and inspiring novel …

Setting Priorities For Conducting And Updating Systematic Reviews, Mona Nasser

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Abstract Systematic reviews - appraisal and synthesis of all primary research - are increasingly being used to inform policy and practice in health care. Therefore, it is important to understand how the key questions in systematic reviews are identified and prioritised and whether they are relevant to policy makers, practitioners and members of the public. Research priority setting (RPS) is usually defined as any interpersonal activity that leads to the selection of topics and/or choices of key questions to investigate . Diverse approaches to setting research priorities are used in different countries, regions and organisations. There is no consensus in …

The Potential Of Crl4-Dcaf1 And Ksr1 As Therapeutic Targets In Low-Grade Merlin-Deficient Tumours, Jade Lyons Rimmer

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Merlin is a tumour suppressor protein that is frequently mutated or downregulated in cancer. Biallelic Merlin inactivation is causative of tumour formation, including schwannoma, meningioma and ependymoma. These tumours can occur sporadically or as part of the genetic condition Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) and cause significant morbidity. The current treatment options are restricted to surgery and radiotherapy, which are invasive and may cause further tumour development. The activity of both the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex Cullin 4 really interesting new gene (RING) E3 ubiquitin ligase- DNA damage binding protein (DDB1) and Cullin 4 associated factor 1 (CRL4-DCAF1) and Kinase suppressor …

The Effect Of Psychological Factors On Morality. The Role Of Culture And Moral Foundations., Azizah Alqahtani

Other Faculty of Health Theses

The main aim of this PhD research was to explore the cultural differences in moral judgment, moral behaviour, moral identity, and cultural values between Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom. Furthermore, I was interested in the psychological factors affecting morality in those two cultures. The first study aimed to achieve the following objectives: to understand people’s moral judgment in Saudi Arabia and the UK, to investigate whether and how personality traits and cultural values affect moral judgment in five moral foundations (harm avoidance, justice, ingroup, authority, purity), and to investigate whether personality traits and cultural values are related differently or similarly …

Functional Imagery Training, A Novel, Theory-Based Motivational Intervention For Weight-Loss, Linda Solbrig

Other Faculty of Health Theses

This thesis investigates the acceptability and efficacy of Functional Imagery Training (FIT), a motivational intervention for weight-management. FIT is based on Elaborated Intrusion Theory, delivered in the style of Motivational interviewing (MI), and designed to promote sustained behaviour change and address cravings. It trains the habitual use of affective, goal-directed mental imagery of personal incentives, using imagery to plan behaviours, anticipate obstacles, and mentally try out solutions from previous successes. Participants are taught to update their imagery from their experience, and to generalise their imagery skills to new goals. In study 1, focus groups explored problems and wishes in regards …

Facilitating Midwifery Involvement In Managing Gestational Weight Gain In Pregnant Women Living With Obesity, Emma Hazeldine

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Overview: Pregnant women living with obesity are at increased risk of pregnancy complications, with risks rising as Body Mass Index (BMI) increases. Midwives are willing to support women with managing their gestational weight gain but lack confidence and access to supporting resources. In the UK there are no interventions that aim to change the intention and behaviour of midwives, to support women with managing their gestational weight gain. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) (Ajzen, 1985) was utilised to frame the design of a behaviour change intervention for midwives. This three-phase study conducted a qualitative needs assessment, intervention design, and …

Ocular Biomechanics Of The Anterior Segment, Daniela Oehring

Other Faculty of Health Theses

The thesis investigates methods of examining corneal biomechanics using non-contact tonometry and introduces novel techniques to investigate corneal material properties in vivo. A comprehensive systems analysis of the CorvisST (CST) and Ocular Response Analyser (ORA) was performed. Pressure sensors were used to characterisation the airflow produced by the CST and the ORA. Distinct differences were observed between the central airflow pressures between the two devices: the CST pressure was higher and of shorter duration. Scheimpflug high-speed imaging via the CST allowed components of the corneal deformation to be investigated and the development of a 3D deformation matrix (time, depth and …

Evidence Based Strategies To Establish Population-Based Cervical Cancer Screening In Kirkuk, Iraq, Suhailah Ali

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Background: Cervical cancer may be fatal to women if not identified and treated early. In Iraq, cervical cancer ranks as the 10th most frequent cancer among women between 15-44 years of age, with about 291 new cervical cancer cases diagnosed annually. Cervical cancer can be prevented in two ways: primary prevention aimed at preventing HPV infection through prophylactic HPV vaccinations; and secondary prevention aimed at preventing precancerous lesions from progressing into invasive lesions through screening. Cervical cancer screening is under researched in Iraq. It is clear that Iraq’s years of isolation and disorder has resulted in a loss of research …

Dentists’ Perceptions Of Their Professional Roles In The Context Of Referral Decisions In Primary Dental Care In England, Zoe Elizabeth Allen

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Background Within Primary Dental Care (PDC), there is variation in dentists’ views about who should be treated in general dental practices and who should be referred to community dental services (CDSs), creating confusion about where patients can access dental care. Aims This research aimed to explore the meanings which general dental practitioners (GDPs) and community dentists in England ascribe to their roles. It focused on why they make, accept or decline patient referrals within PDC. Methods I conducted a configurative systematic review of literature about referrals within PDC in the UK. Data were synthesised using Critical Interpretive Synthesis. I interviewed …

Assessing Cognitive Functions In Arabic And English Speaking Populations, Bazah Almubark

Other Faculty of Health Theses

The aims of this thesis are to assess cognitive functions in adult Arabic populations for clinical purposes, and to examine resulting cultural differences between Arabic and English speaking populations. In the first study, we translated, culturally adapted and validated an existing cognitive screening tool (Cognistat) for its use with Arabic adults with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), and we examined the differences in cognitive performance between Arabic and English individuals. A total of 107 healthy Arabic speaking adults and 62 ABI patients (30 stroke and 32 traumatic brain injury; TBI) between 18-60 years were involved in the study. The results indicated …

The Timing And Composition Of Gestational Weight Gain And The Impact On Neonatal Anthropometry, Kathy Redfern

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Background: Numerous maternal factors, such as body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG), diet and physical activity (PA) have been shown to impact infant birth weight. In the UK, antenatal care tends to be based on pre-pregnancy BMI and women are not weighed routinely during pregnancy nor are there guidelines for GWG. However, it is widely acknowledged that maternal obesity and GWG in excess of the American Institute of Medicine guidelines are associated with increased risk of foetal macrosomia and recent studies have suggested a role of the timing and composition of GWG beyond that of BMI. The purpose …

Transitioning From Homelessness Into A Sustained Tenancy: What Enables Successful Tenancy Sustainment? (The Moving On Project), Leonie Boland

Other Faculty of Health Theses

For individuals with multiple and complex needs, leaving homelessness is recognised as a dynamic and complex process. Furthermore, despite the provision of supports, tenancies may not be maintained and individuals return to using homelessness services. Tenancy sustainment—the maintenance of a tenancy to avoid a premature end of tenure—is fundamental to the resolution and prevention of homelessness. There is a paucity of research about the occupations of individuals as they establish and maintain tenancies. This thesis aimed to understand the transition process from homelessness, and tenancy sustainment, from an occupational perspective, to inform a potential occupational therapy intervention. Underpinned by the …

A Behavioural And Cognitive Neuroscience Investigation Of Deceptive Communication, Chun-Wei Hsu

Other Faculty of Health Theses

There is a rich literature on how people tell lies and detect them in others, but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. The first aim of this thesis was to elucidate key cognitive and neural processes underlying cued (i.e., instructed) and uncued lies. The second aim, based on recent research suggesting a link between dishonesty and creativity, was to determine whether creative cognition contributes to deceptive communication. In a first behavioural study, performance on generating and detecting lies was measured in a socially interactive setting involving cued and uncued lies. Results of a multiple regression analysis showed that creativity …

An Investigation Into The Validation Of Pedometers To Detect Foreleg Steps In Horses (Equus Caballus) At Walk And Trot, Elizabeth Jane Francis

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Background: Current research, surrounding motor laterality at a population level in horses, indicates that in order to stand with the left forelimb in advance of the other, it is achieved by taking a greater amount of steps with the left foreleg than the right foreleg (McGreevy & Thomson 2006; McGreevy et al. 2007); suggesting that pedometers could effectively estimate asymmetry of forelimb locomotion in grazing horses. This novel method of detecting forelimb preference also reduces the likelihood of operator influence and provides an inexpensive objective measure of vertical movement which has the advantage of scoring large sample sizes, avoids single-day …

Computational Modelling Of Human Aesthetic Preferences In The Visual Domain: A Brain-Inspired Approach, François Lemarchand

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Following the rise of neuroaesthetics as a research domain, computational aesthetics has also known a regain in popularity over the past decade with many works using novel computer vision and machine learning techniques to evaluate the aesthetic value of visual information. This thesis presents a new approach where low-level features inspired from the human visual system are extracted from images to train a machine learning-based system to classify visual information depending on its aesthetics, regardless of the type of visual media. Extensive tests are developed to highlight strengths and weaknesses of such low-level features while establishing good practices in the …

The Role Of Lysophosphatidylcholine Acyltransferase-2 (Lpcat-2) In Inflammatory Responses, Hanaa Alrammah

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Sepsis is the overwhelming inflammatory response to infection, especially bacterial infection and associated bacterial products. It has major healthcare impacts, affecting an estimated 19-30 million persons/year worldwide with a mortality of 30-70%. Despite intense research, no specific therapy has been established for sepsis and in addition to the high mortality, the associated economic costs are very high. For example, recent data shows that the annual cost of patients with sepsis is more than $20 billion in the USA, and £2.5 billion in the UK. Therefore, novel targets and new therapies for sepsis are required which will have an important impact …

Global Change Effects On Seagrass Ecosystem, Amrit Kumar Mishra

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Rising carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the atmosphere will increase the average pCO2 level in the world oceans, which will have a knock-on effect on the marine ecosystem. Coastal seagrass communities one of the most productive marine ecosystems are predicted to benefit from the increase in CO2 levels, but long-term effects of elevated CO2 on seagrass communities are less understood. Population reconstruction techniques was used to investigate the population dynamics of Cymodocea nodosa meadows, exposed to long term elevated CO2 at volcanic seeps off Greece and Italy. Effect of elevated CO2 was noticed on the growth, morphometry, density, biomass and …

What’S In A Frame? Cosmopolitan Morality, The Media And Interventionism, Nicola Katy Langdon

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This thesis examines the media-foreign policy nexus through a specific focus on the moral framing of conflict and interventionism within British media and policy discourses. While morality has been identified as a frequently used frame through which we may understand issues, there has been little extant discussion of the nature of morality embedded within media texts, or how it may shape understanding and policy-making. This research contributes to this void through forwarding cosmopolitan morality framing as a new theoretical framework. Consideration is given to how appeals to a cosmopolitan moral consciousness can resonate and build support for or legitimise particular …

Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Health And Well-Being: Definitions, Identity And Experience, Sarah Molland

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

In this thesis, I explore the meanings and experience of health and well-being in the lives of individuals with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Taking an auto/biographical approach and utilising in-depth qualitative online interviews, I draw on the experience and narratives of seventeen individuals with IBD, including myself. The three main themes addressed are ‘Living with IBD’, ‘Becoming a Patient’, and ‘Coping and Control’. I explore how IBD influences individuals’ experience of personal relationships, and their medical encounters and treatments. I reflect on how and why these factors arise and the effect they may have upon the disease and its management …

A Continued Musical And Personal Dialogue With The Waves Of Epilepsy., Alan Douglas Miles

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

A Continued Musical and Personal Dialogue with the Waves of Epilepsy. In the early hours of the morning several years ago I awoke with paramedics leaning over me. In a state of confusion, my first conscious decision was to enter my music production studio while they attempted to lead me to the ambulance. Music was important to me even in a disorientated post-ictal state (an altered state of consciousness following a seizure). Two weeks later I awoke with paramedics standing over me again. I had started to experience multiple seizures. During the previous weeks, I also experienced numerous incidents of …