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Mid-Career Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of Elements That Contribute To Job Satisfaction And Intent To Remain In The Field, Sarah Elizabeth Westberg

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examined the experiences and perceptions of mid-career elementary teachers by exploring elements contributing to their level of job satisfaction and intent to remain in the field. Participants for the study were identified from those who responded to a questionnaire that they received via their district email addresses. All four participants were teachers with 6-17 years of teaching experience who had considered leaving the field.

Data collection strategies included a series of three interviews with each teacher, as well as responses to two writing prompts. Through analysis of the qualitative data, several common themes emerged, thus providing insight into …

Micro-Macro Mathematical Modeling Analysis Of An Al-Air Battery, Christopher Charles Welch

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The aluminum-air battery is a very promising electrical energy storage system for portable electronics and electric vehicles because it is safe, inexpensive, and has a very high energy density. With the [EMIm]Cl-AlCl3 room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) electrolyte, by controlling the acidity, H2 evolution and dendrite formation are prevented and the Al2O3 passive film on the anode can be partially dissolved (cracked), so the battery’s lifespan is extended and even allows battery charging. Still, the Al2O3 passive film on the anode and Al2O3 deposition on the cathode remain issues which negatively affect battery performance. While these phenomena have been experimentally observed, …

Examining Reflective Practice Through Lesson Study, Amanda L. Wojcik

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine a team of elementary teachers’ reflective practice through lesson study. The study focused on how three first-grade teachers described their reflective practice during and after lesson study and how they reflected-in, -on, and -for-action during three lesson studies. The teachers each participated in four individual interviews, three stimulated recall interviews, and observations during the lesson studies when they taught research lessons and engaged in post-lesson discussions.

Data from the interviews and lesson study observations were analyzed using qualitative methods and through the lens of Schön’s theory of reflection. Ten sub-themes were …

Shyness Mindset And Sexual Harassment Responses Among Female College Students, Jessica Rose Winder

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Sexual harassment is a common problem that has negative consequences on society as a whole and on individual well-being. Confronting sexual harassers has been shown to be an effective response. Victims of sexual harassment are also encouraged to report harassment. Sexual harassment has been associated with internalizing responses, such as depression and decreased self-esteem. These responses could negatively influence confronting and reporting behaviors. This study draws from previous mindset research. Results from this prior research showed evidence that shyness mindset affects responses to peer victimization among adolescents and college students. This study hypothesized that shyness mindset among female college students …

Effects Of Differential Instructional Time In Algebra On Standardized Assessment And Semester Grade Outcomes, Michael S. Wojtowicz

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Building off of other studies that examined the effectiveness of double-dose algebra programs such as Nomi and Allensworth (2009), this dissertation compared the performance outcomes of students enrolled in one of two alternatives to traditional high school algebra, a double-dose and a single-dose algebra program. This work utilized multiple linear regression to assess the degree of association between student race/ethnicity and selected demographic characteristics, including gender, free and reduced lunch status, and IEP status, on standardized assessment and end of semester mathematics course grade outcomes, while controlling for initial mathematics placement test results. This project assessed these outcomes for students …

Adaptive Object Detection For Autonomous Vehicles, Christopher Wolfe

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Autonomous vehicles are gradually entering our daily lives. The goal of fully autonomous commercially available vehicles is becoming closer to reality each day as the contributions from researchers and various institutions are being added to the overall body of knowledge. Object detection is a critical component of an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle and draws extensively on results from many fields such as image processing and statistics. In this thesis, we consider ideas from the study of real-time computing and control systems to present a novel method of real-time adaptive object detection. We present a conceptual framework of the method as …

Fundamental Study Of Supported Metal Catalysts Prepared By Metal In Lithium Solution For Energy Science, Haiping Xu

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) is a promising technique for energy conversion and storage from intermittent electricity sources (ie. wind and solar). By coupling electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2R) to a renewable energy source atmospheric CO2 could be converted back into a fuel such as ethanol, or a commodity chemical such as ethanol or acetic acid. These products could then be consumed for energy or used to generate more valuable chemical products effectively removing CO2 from the atmosphere. To commercialize this process, it is highly desired to prepare catalysts that selectively reduce CO2 at low overpotential with long durability. Research …

Men's Lived Experiences In A Counselor Training Program: A Phenomenological Investigation, Suzanna Marie Wise

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the lived experience of seven counselors-in-training (CITs) who are men in one accredited masters-level counselor preparation program in the Midwestern United States. Over the course of a single interview that ranged in length from approximately one to two hours each, CITs were asked to describe and define their gender identity and expression, describe their experiences of being men in their families and communities, in their respective counseling programs, and as they reflect on the process of becoming a counselor in a woman-concentrated profession. Predominate gender socialization patterns in the United States in which men worked and …

Pursuing Procedural Justice In Sustainability Policy: Assessing The Linkage Between Political Culture And Municipal Efforts, Meng Yuan

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

How does the political culture of local governments influence the type and extent of procedural justice in sustainability policy processes? Answering this question is important because political culture is potentially a significant influence on local governments that could be better conceptualized and theorized and because public participation in sustainability policy processes is central to the demands of procedural justice in environmental justice (EJ) movements. This dissertation seeks to bring a new conception and new measures of political culture to the study of policy making by local governments as well as to contribute to developing the conceptualization and measurement of public …

Qualitative Perspectives On The Strange Trails Of Persistence In Stem, Erika Johanna Zocher

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

In 2019, a Midwestern state university was awarded a $1 million NSF S-STEM grant to support scholarships for academically gifted, Pell Grant-eligible undergraduates enrolled in one of six designated STEM majors. Educational research was also funded by this grant, with the goal of identifying and contextualizing supports and challenges that impact persistence in STEM within the setting of a near-peer-mentored social support group during the fall of 2019. The purpose of this group was to provide social support and foster a sense of belonging for the twelve scholars. Such support is important for guiding students towards personal development and degree …

An Examination Of Quantity And Quality Of Maternal Consulting Predicting Adolescents' Socio-Emotional Outcomes, Natalie Low

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This observational investigation had two aims. The first aim examined the independent associations of the quantity and quality of maternal consulting and early adolescents’ socio-emotional outcomes. The second aim assessed the moderation effect of the quality of maternal consulting on the relationship between the quantity of maternal consulting and early adolescents’ outcomes. Seventy early adolescents (Mage=12.39 years old) and their mothers participated in the study. The sample was 51.4% girls and 48.6% boys. Mothers and their early adolescents were video recorded discussing typical hypothetical peer-related situations. Conversations were coded for the amount of consulting and four aspects of quality: feasibility, …

Modern Mandala: A Transnational History Of Southeast Asians From Burma, Malaya, And Thailand, 1950-1970., Joann Losavio

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation documents cultural processes of decolonization and nation-building in the mid-twentieth century between 1950 and 1970 between Southeast Asia and the West, specifically between Burma, Malaya, Thailand, and Great Britain and the United States, as they occurred through transnational connections, migrations, spaces, and exchanges. This study proposes transnational factors were critical in such cultural processes, and proves this point through the examination of three case studies.

The first focuses on Malayan students in Great Britain in the early 1950s and how a group of them expressed anti-colonial ideas and desires for their own independent nation in a student journal, …

Copper And Gold In Vapors And Liquids As A Function Of Hcl At 700°C And 100 Mpa, Corrie A. Lucchesi

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Porphyry ore deposits are major sources of copper (Cu) and gold (Au) and form when a magmatic volatile phase (MVP) exsolves from a porphyritic intermediate to felsic melt and transports metals to surrounding country rock where they precipitate in an ore zone. There is a consensus that the chloride concentration of the MVP has a direct relationship to the concentration of Cu and Au in the MVP, but the role of dissolved HCl on Cu and Au concentrations has not been addressed. It is hypothesized that increasing HCl concentrations in the MVP will result in higher concentrations of Cu and …

Calling Home, Laura Bender

Mighty Pen Project Anthology & Archive

A navy chaplain fights for the medical unit's right to call their loved ones.

Articles, stories, and other compositions in this archive were written by participants in the Mighty Pen Project. The program, developed by author David L. Robbins, and in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University and the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia, offers veterans and their family members a customized twelve-week writing class, free of charge. The program encourages, supports, and assists participants in sharing their stories and experiences of military experience so both writer and audience may benefit.

A Computational Study Of Binary Linear And Quadratic Programming And Solvers, William Cody Mackelfresh

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

In this thesis we study and compare computational capability of two solvers, Gurobi and BiqCrunch, and their capabilities to solve various binary quadratic and linear programming problems. We review two types of programming models for three types of combinatorial optimization problems, namely Max-Cut, Max Independent Set, and Max-$k$-Cluster. We also review the Reformulation-Linearization Technique (RLT) and Semidefinite Programming (SDP) approaches for solving these models, go over the software and hardware used to solve these problems, and finally review the numerical results obtained by solving the problems.

Case Study: Examining Perceptions Of Students With Low Vision In Online Courses, Asma Fuad Marghalani

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored the most helpful accommodations for students with low vision in online courses. Utilizing online surveys and individual interviews, this case study took place at a U.S. public university in the Midwest. The theoretical framework for this study was Universal Design for Learning (UDL). The findings indicate that students with low vision prefer receiving text and audio information. Additionally, the findings showed that extended time was the most helpful accommodation, alternative formats for materials, headings, and color-contrasting for online content were the most helpful accessibility aspects, and screen readers were the most helpful assistive technology. The …

Implementation Of A 2d Bond Based Peridynamic Fatigue Model In Fem, Kyle Mansfield

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

A relatively new fracture theory known as peridynamics has been developed which uses a nonlocal theory to describe crack growth, resolving many of the issues associated to the classical continuum theory. Internal material interactions are described via a family of ‘bonds’, capable of exerting force over a macro-scale region of influence known as the horizon. Bond damage accumulates naturally due to repeated cyclic or critical loading and damage precipitates as a growing crack as bonds reach a critical damage and are severed. In the present work a modified compact tension specimen subjected to cyclic loading is modeled with the 2D …

Development Of An Electron-Beam Halo Diagnostics, Christopher James Marshall

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Electron beam halos defined as the peripheral fraction of the beam that does not contribute to the front end application. Particles located in the halo can cause damage to the particle accelerator and lower the power and quality of the beam. Being able to measure the beam halo could provide insight on the halo-formation mechanism and ultimately will improve the overall performance and quality of the beam. A halo diagnostic was designed, and a prototype built and commissioned. The diagnostics relies on detecting optical radiation by the electron beam and masking its core to enhance the detection of the halo. …

Gender Differences In The Experience Of Power And The Underlying Mechanism Of Status, Jasmin Martinez

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This study examines the differential experiences of men and women with regard to the possession of power. Power—or the unequal control, influence, and access to resources, people, and things—is a byproduct of the hierarchical order that forms in a multitude of social contexts. As well as being unequally held, power is also unequally exercised. This study aims to understand the differences between men’s and women’s experience of power through the lens of another hierarchical variable: social status. One area with large implications for the impact of unequal power is within the workplace. Past literature has found that women and men …

Transitional Math In Illinois: A Quantitative Study On Eligible And Enrolled Students, Whitney Lynn Martino

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Completing a post-secondary degree is crucial to being competitive in the current job market. By 2020, the majority of all jobs in the United States require post-secondary education and training; however, barriers to access and attainment exist among individuals working to obtain post-secondary degrees, and there is an overall slowdown in post-secondary attainment. Students entering college identified as under-prepared is one of the attainment barriers to a post-secondary degree. This is particularly problematic at open admissions institutions like community colleges. When students arrive at college academically unprepared, they are often required to take developmental or remedial education coursework. In response …

Estimating Paleotemperatures In The Amundsen Sea For The Last 620,000 Years Through Diatom Morphometrics (Iodp Expedition 379), Joseph Robert Mastro

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

As global climate continues to rapidly change over the coming decades, West Antarctica will continue to be a significant area of concern due to its susceptibility to marine ice sheet collapse. Past collapses during Pleistocene interglacials have been hypothesized but uncertainty exists with respect to the precise timing of specific collapse events. Drill core samples collected from the Amundsen Sea continental rise during IODP Expedition 379 allow for analysis of a more continuous record of Pleistocene glacial-interglacial cycles. Here we report paleotemperature estimates from the Amundsen Sea spanning the last 620 kyr with the objective of identifying likely late Pleistocene …

Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia, Behavioral Inhibition/Activation, And Behavioral Response To A Distressed Infant Simulator In Emerging Adults, Erin R. Mckay

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Caregiver sensitivity and intrusiveness during infancy are predictive of the development of self-regulation, joint-attention, and cognitive ability. However, few studies have examined predictors of caregiver responses to infant distress. Of particular note is vagal tone, specifically respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), a physiological measure of top-down self-regulation. Previous work has identified a relationship between RSA, as well as other measures of caregiver self-regulation, with caregiver sensitivity and intrusiveness. The current study also examined additional predictors of caregiver responsiveness, behavioral inhibition and activation, which was conceptualized as a bottom-up system of self-regulation due to its influence on motivation and personality. It was …

Association Of Various Physiological And Fitness Markers To Body Fat Percentage In Physically Inactive Adults, Anthony Mckee

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Obesity can dramatically and negatively affect many aspects of normal physiological functioning. Obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive body fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. Body mass index (BMI) is a widely used approach to quantify body fat in large group settings; however, this method has significant shortcomings with accuracy and estimation. More direct measures such as bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) can provide a more reliable and accurate assessment of body fat mass and, therefore reduce the shortcomings of BMI when assessing possible associations with health- and performance-related variables. A plethora of research studies has been conducted …

The Impact Of Attributional Style On Adolescent Stress And Mental Health: Exploring Domain-Specific Stressors, Lauren Therese Mcneela

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The present study examined the relation between domain-specific stressors (i.e., interpersonal versus noninterpersonal) and adolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms among 118 high school students (Mage = 16.65 years old; 64% female; 79.8% Caucasian). Additionally, this study assessed the impact of negative attributional style on each of these associations, furthering the current literature on the Cognitive Diathesis-Stress model among adolescents. Using the lavaan package of RStudio (Rosseel, 2012), path analyses were run to examine the relationship between domain-specific stressor and adolescent outcomes. The present study found that interpersonal, but not noninterpersonal stressors were associated with internalizing symptoms, while neither interpersonal nor …

Women Obtaining The Superintendency: An Examination Of Internal And External Barriers That Influence A Woman's Career Trajectory, Jodi J. Megerle

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The role of public school superintendent is one of the most gendered executive positions in the United States, with men twenty times more likely than women to advance from teacher to superintendent. Although the majority of teachers and central office administrators in schools are women, the majority of superintendents are men. Women have made gains, yet under-representation continues to exist. As women break through the barriers, it is important to understand their experiences in administrative leadership as they navigate their careers. How do women in administration think and feel about working toward a male-dominated occupation? What barriers or opportunities have …

Examination Of Practices Used By Ap Computer Science Teachers With Higher Than Average Female Enrollment, Derek J. Miller

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examines the practices employed by AP Computer Science A teachers that can help recruit and retain female students in computer science. A survey was sent to teachers to see what practices they used in their classrooms and what practices they thought had the biggest influence on female student recruitment and retention. Of the five practice categories (recruitment, pedagogical, curricular, extracurricular, and mentoring), the survey respondents thought recruitment was the most influential and curricular was the least influential. After the survey, 12 teachers were chosen for interviews because they had a higher enrollment of female students than the rest …

Virtual Faces In Virtual Spaces: Generating Social Capital In An Online World, Raymond James Miran

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This thesis examines how online virtual reality games can generate social capital in the

social video game VRChat. Past research explores the generation of social capital from social

media and video games. These platforms generate social capital through different processes.

These differences are due to the technological differences and divergent purposes of the

platforms. VRChat bridges the computer-mediated-communication platforms as a social video

game. This thesis examines how VRChat as an online virtual reality generates bridging and

bonding online social capital by combining elements of the two platforms.

Results from 21 in-depth interviews showed that players of VRChat generated both …

Partial Shading In Photovoltaic Cells Using Fuzzy Logic Tuned Particle Swarm Optimization Method Of Maximum Power Point Tracking Control, Nauman Moiz Mohammed Abdul

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This paper dealt with the study of a newly modified fuzzy adaptive particle swarm

optimization controller and compared it with various existing conventional and advanced

controllers. A traditional PSO controller has the problems of oscillations and slow convergence. It is modified using fuzzy logic to decrease the number of oscillations and optimize

the convergence speed to produce a better efficient output. This controller is built to adapt

under various solar irradiances and partial solar conditions on the solar panels. This controller is then tested along with other various controllers, results recorded and studied. The

simulations are performed on the MatLab …

“I Never Shared My Opinion Again”: Political Communication Apprehension And Conservative College Students, Megan Elise Montgomery

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Higher education faculty have long struggled with getting students to participate meaningfully in classroom and campus dialogues. Some students avoid participating due to fear or anxiety of communicating with others. Certain topics, such as politics, can cause higher degrees of apprehension. Political minority groups can experience greater apprehension when communicating with majority groups. One minority group in academia with the potential to self-censor is the conservative student.

This study used state-based communication apprehension (McCroskey, 1984) and political communication apprehension (PCA, Jones-Carmack, 2019) as theoretical backings to explore how conservative opinion expression and self-censorship in academic settings might change over time. …

Single-Domain Vhh Antibodies As Protein Stabilization Modules, Nourhan Mohamed Disouky Mostafa

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

VHH domains are the antigen-binding units found in heavy-chain-only antibodies from the Camelidae family (e.g., camels and llamas). They are considered a unique minimalist antibody scaffold due to the lack of a variable light chain domain. Despite having half the antigen-binding interface of conventional antibodies, these VHH antibodies bind their target antigens with affinities comparable to conventional antibodies. This project explored how flexible linkers connecting an anti-GFP VHH (αGFP VHH) domain to its antigen (EGFP) enhanced antigen stability and influenced oligomeric assembly. It was hypothesized that linking the anti-GFP VHH antibody to its target antigen (EGFP) will increase the local …