Digital Commons Network^™

Succession Planning Strategies For Nonprofit Organizations, Chandler Campbell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nonprofit organizations are cornerstones in the community that contribute to improving environments, communities, persons, and life overall. However, some nonprofit organization senior leaders lack the succession planning strategies, resources, and funding to continue serving as positive social change agents in the community. Grounded in the general systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore business strategies nonprofit leaders use for succession planning. The participants included three senior leaders in a nonprofit located in the northeastern region of the United States who have indirectly or directly implemented succession planning strategies. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, …

U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Women Career Barriers To Success, Angela Campbell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Active-duty military, senior female enlisted leaders in grades E7-E9 are underrepresented in the Navy due to navigating organizational, social, and cultural barriers. The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenology study was to explore the lived experiences of U.S. Navy retired senior enlisted women who served in pay grades E7-E9 in the United States, overcame career barriers, and achieved success in a male-dominated organization. This transcendental phenomenological study’s research questions focused on the experiences of U.S. Navy senior enlisted women who overcame career barriers and achieved career success in a male-dominated organization. The career resilience framework was used to assess the …

Perceptions Of Science Teachers At Title I Middle Schools Tasked To Integrate Digital Interactive Textbooks, April C. Carpenter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the K-12 classrooms, science teachers are increasingly using digital interactive textbooks to improve instruction. However, limited research exists on the Title I science educators’ experiences with digital interactive texts in Title I middle schools. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of these Title I science teachers in middle schools tasked with integrating digital interactive textbooks. This study was guided through the lens of Fuller’s stages of concern, a component of the Concerns Based Adoption Model (CBAM). Adopting basic qualitative methodology, purposeful sampling was employed to recruit nine Title I middle school science teachers through …

Effective Onboarding Strategies To Increase Talent Retention, Mark L. Carpenter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human resource (HR) leaders are concerned about the adverse effects of employee turnover on employees and organizational success. Without a successful introduction to the corporate culture, employees may be more likely to exit their positions, resulting in higher recruitment costs and lower productivity for companies. Grounded in social exchange theory, the purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore onboarding strategies organizational HR leaders use to reduce employee turnover. The participants were six HR leaders at light manufacturing companies in the United States Midwest region who successfully reduced employee turnover. Data from semistructured interviews and publicly available documents were …

The Effect Of Employee Appreciation Methods On Job Satisfaction Of Higher Education Support Staff, Joanna Carter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Almost 80% of U.S. companies have an employee recognition program. Although there is a great deal of research on the factors that affect employees' job satisfaction in general, little is known about the effect of employee appreciation methods on support staff's job satisfaction within higher education institutions. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the effect of seven employee appreciation methods on the job satisfaction of support staff within higher education institutions. The study's theoretical framework consisted of Abraham Maslow’s theory of motivation, Victor Vroom’s expectancy theory, Frederick Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory, and Arne Kallenberg’s theory of job satisfaction. …

Lived Experiences Of College-Educated African American Males During Police Interactions In Central Kentucky, Lawerence Eric Charles

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent high-profile incidents involving police interaction with Black citizens have increased community outrage and racial divisions between police and African Americans. Despite previous research on relations between African Americans and police, little literature has focused on the lived experiences of college-educated African American males when interacting with police. In the study 12 participants were interviewed. The analytical approach was grounded theory, which identified seven themes that most of the men had in common. One shared lived experience expressed the need for collaborative and inclusive policies that prevent bias, police brutality, and wrongful arrest and detention of the African American community. …

Effect Of Detention Facilities Toward Juvenile Delinquency And Exposure To Criminalization, Calvin Clark

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractDetention facility settings present opportunities and risks in relation to violent extremism. Criminalization as the main concern would increase the crime rates in the United States while allowing the formation of terrorist groups on U.S. soil. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between juveniles’ experiences in detention centers and their exposure to criminalization. The study was guided by social control theory, narrative theory, and differential opportunity theory. Data were collected using a survey of 15 juvenile detention officers. Results of correlation analyses indicated a significant relationship between detention experience and increased exposure to criminalization …

African American Women And Social Support Networks To Overcome The Strong Black Woman Schema And Depression, Teia Jelisia D. Clements

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental illness disorders within the United States are on the rise. Researchers have indicated that African Americans are less likely to seek mental health compared to European Americans. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand how social support networks influence African American women between the ages of 25 and 50 in addressing the strong Black woman (SBW) schema and depression. A conceptual framework consisting of the SBW collective theory guided the study. A purposive sample of 16 African American women who use social support networks to address the SBW schema and depression was obtained through flyers posted …

'Ice In The Family': Exploring The Experiences Of Close Family Members When Another Family Member Is Using Methamphetamine: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study, Douglas Greg Gordon, Kylie Russell, Tracey Coventry

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Objective: To explore the experiences of close family members when another family member is using methamphetamine and how the family member responds over time.

Background: Methamphetamine use has widespread implications and harms for both people who use the drug and those that live with them. While there is a significant representation in the literature relating to family members of people who use drugs or alcohol, there are limited studies specifically considering family members experiences of methamphetamine use. Families have been shown to have both positive and negative impacts on people using drugs, but less is known on the impact on …

‘We And Our Stories’: Constructing Food Experiences In A Unesco Gastronomy City, Eerang Park, Kaewta Muangasame, Sangkyun Kim

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The experiential elements of food tourism can be transformed into meaningful experiences of local food heritage and identity in the context of a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. From a local stakeholder perspective, six key drivers at three phases of the food experience are identified, and each driver involves several local elements that are coordinated and staged in various modes to create and develop four sequential food experiences. The pre-travel stage should focus on enhancing potential tourist’s awareness of the UNESCO designation. The on-site food experience is found to be twofold: exposure to the local food environment and the actual …

Treatment Integrity And Differentiation In The Very Early Rehabilitation In Speech (Verse) Trial, Emily Brogan, Natalie Ciccone, Erin Godecke

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

Key elements of treatment fidelity include treatment integrity (adherence to the treatment protocol) and treatment differentiation (the difference in treatment ingredients in the control and intervention groups). The Very Early Rehabilitation in SpEech (VERSE) trial established treatment fidelity at the macro level for key components of therapy.

Aims:

To complete a detailed analysis of treatment integrity and differentiation at the utterance level of a therapeutic interaction.

Methods:

This was an observational study of therapy videos collected as part of the VERSE trial. Participants were people with aphasia in the very early phase of recovery post stroke (n = 44) …

Performance Capital: Retailing Myth, Identity, And The Practices Of Governance, Richard Sherwin

Other Publications

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Processing Efficiency In Cognitive Outcomes Of Pediatric Cancer Survivors, Julie A. Trapani

All ETDs from UAB

Pediatric cancer and cancer-related treatments may disrupt brain development and maturation, placing survivors at risk for cognitive late effects. Identifying distinct patterns in outcomes across cancer types has been challenging, which has limited the implementation of systematic neurocognitive screening protocols. Emerging research indicates that processing efficiency (PE) impairment, or inefficient neural processing as measured by working memory (WM) and processing speed (PS) abilities, is a frequently reported but poorly defined cognitive late effect in survivors of both primary central nervous system (CNS) cancers and cancers of non-CNS origin. This dissertation attempts to 1) review and conceptualize PE skills in pediatric …

Understanding The Impact Of Hospital Price Transparency Initiatives On Consumer Decision-Making To Purchase Healthcare Services, Neel Pathak

All ETDs from UAB

This study examined the influence of hospital list price information on individuals' decision-making to purchase healthcare services. The study collected quantitative data from 550 individuals by administering a hospital price transparency survey. Findings indicate that awareness of hospital list prices and quality outcomes metrics was high, but utilization rates were relatively low among survey participants. Demographic variations were explored with respect to the awareness and utilization of hospital list prices. Quality outcomes and recommendations from friends, family, and physicians emerged as the most important attributes influencing decision-making to purchase healthcare services whereas hospital list prices and social media had a …

Regulating Cancer Cell Metabolism During Hypoxia-Reoxygenation: Examing The Interplay Of Gasotransmitters And Glutaminolysis, Dianna L. Xing

All ETDs from UAB

Oxidative phosphorylation is an oxygen-dependent metabolic process that provides the majority of ATP used to support essential cellular functions. However, in cancer, limitations in oxygen availability occur during the development and metastasis of tumors. To compensate for the demands of rapidly proliferating cells, many cancers exhibit an increased demand for glycolysis, the TCA cycle, and glutaminolysis. In this thesis, extracellular flux technology and metabolomics were applied in a hypoxia-reoxygenation model to investigate the metabolic adaptations that occur in dynamic changes in oxygen and nutrient availability in cancer cells. We show the significance of glutaminolysis and its substrates in regulating cancer …

Spectroscopic And Electrical Characterization Of Cr:Al:Znse Gain Elements, Rick Harrington Watkins

All ETDs from UAB

Middle infrared (mid-IR) lasers have gained significant attention across various fields, including optics research, medical applications, and defense technologies. The mid-IR spectral region, spanning wavelengths between 2μm and 8μm, is particularly important due to its overlap with the molecular fingerprints, which enables the detection of organic and inorganic molecules through their rotational and vibrational frequencies. Transition metaldoped II-VI (TM:II-VI) chalcogenides, specifically Cr:ZnSe, are well-known laser materials for optically pumped mid-IR lasers, offering effective lasing capabilities in this spectral range. In addition to optical excitation, the wide-band semiconductor nature of Cr:ZnSe crystals holds the potential for direct electrical excitation, making them …

Perceptionf Of Multipurpose Prevention Technologies Aimed At Hiv/Sti/Unintended Pregnancy Among African American Women In The Deep South, Kristina Wilbekin Walker

All ETDs from UAB

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs for women are not being met globally. In addition to efforts towards providing widespread access to currently available contraceptives and sexually transmitted infection (STI) treatment or prevention products, another focus is the development of multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs). These MPTs are combination methods that prevent pregnancy, and protect against HIV and/or additional STIs. The objective of this dissertation research was to assess factors related to sexual and reproductive decision-making that may influence interest in MPTs and inform MPT implementation strategies for African and African American (AA) women. The first aim of this research, I …

Interactions Between Pseudomonas Aeruginosa And The Oral Commensal Streptococcus Salivarius, Sara Noelle Stoner

All ETDs from UAB

The cystic fibrosis airway is a polymicrobial environment often dominated by opportunistic pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a leading cause of lung function decline and mortality in persons with CF. Commensal streptococcal colonization has been associated with stable CF lung function in multiple studies. However, few studies have examined interactions between P. aeruginosa and commensals as well as their impact on P. aeruginosa airway infections. In the first half of this work, we studied interactions between P. aeruginosa and the oral commensal Streptococcus salivarius within a biofilm setting. We found that S. salivarius biofilm formation is promoted by the non-mucoid …

Manipulation And Dependence On Host Cell Cycle By Human Rna And Dna Viruses: Human Coronavirus Oc43 And Bk Polyomavirus, Jason M. Needham

All ETDs from UAB

Cell cycle is a universal necessity of cellular life and impacts nearly every process within the cell. However, despite over one hundred years of research, there still remain questions concerning the mechanisms and regulation of eukaryotic cell cycle. From the beginning, viruses have informed our knowledge of cell cycle. Many key regulators such as the E2F transcription factors, Src kinase, and p53 were originally discovered while studying the interactions between viruses and the cell. Herein, we continue the investigation of viral interactions with cell cycle machinery by researching an RNA virus and a DNA virus. These viruses, human coronavirus OC43 …

A Tale Of Two Waves: The Role Of Genomic Enhancers In Regulating Transcriptional And Epigenetic Responses To Neuronal Activitiy, Robert A. Phillips

All ETDs from UAB

The mesolimbic dopamine (DA) pathway, which consists of dopaminergic neurons that project from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAc), is heavily implicated in drug addiction. Exposure to drugs of abuse results in increases in extracellular concentrations of DA in the NAc, which in turn activates an immediate early gene (IEG) expression program that primarily consists of activity-dependent transcription factors, such as the AP1 subunits Fos and JunB. IEGs engage a set of temporally and functionally distinct genes, termed the late response gene (LRG) expression program. While gene expression changes are critical for drug-dependent adaptations, two major …

Understanding Attitudes, Subjective Norms, And Intent Of Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy And Refusal Among African Americans In The United States Using The Theory Of Reasoned Action, Deandrea Lashay Martinez

All ETDs from UAB

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and vaccine refusal contributed to many African Americans not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. The reasons for vaccine hesitancy and vaccine refusal were unclear by sociodemographic factors (income, gender, education, and age) among African Americans. This research explored attitudes, subjective norms, and intent of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and vaccine refusal among African Americans in the United States using the Theory of Reasoned Action. The two research questions were (1) Among African Americans, do age, income, gender, and education factors remain stable across three study cohorts in differentiating subjects who are COVID-19 vaccine hesitant versus refusal from 2020–2022? (2) …

In-Vitro Screening Of Immune Response With Ftir Spectroscopy In A Mirna Murine Knock Out Model, Ryan Muddiman, Abigail Keogan, Daniel Cullen, Remsha Afzal, Frances Nally, Claire Mccoy, Aidan Meade

Conference Papers

MicroRNAs are small ~22 nucleotide RNA sequences that are guided to the 3’ untranslated region (UTR) of protein-coding target mRNA sequences. One particular microRNA, miR155, plays a remarkable role in the immune system, where it is essential for mounting appropriate immune responses. However, its dysregulation has been identified in multiple inflammatory disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), arthritis, psoriasis and colitis. More specifically, miR-155 has been found to be elevated in the serum and brain lesions of MS patients. Importantly, therapeutic inhibition of miR-155 can inhibit progression of the MS disease model. One of us has identified that macrophages are …

Alterity In Central And Eastern European Illustrations For The Lord Of The Rings 1981-1993, Joel Merriner

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

The 2001-2003 cinematic release of Peter Jackson’s movie adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings heralded a period of widespread pictorial homogenisation in Tolkien visual culture. Propelled by the conceptual design of veteran “Western” Tolkien artists Alan Lee and John Howe, Jackson’s vision of Middle-earth became the hegemonic model by which other depictions are measured. Consequently, the potential for undertaking a scholarly examination of an alternative, specifically non-Western Tolkien vision (with all the implications for visual difference and/or commonality this might involve), has been largely ignored. This dissertation, however, seeks to foster a deeper understanding of the possibility …

Strategies Global Virtual Team Leaders Use To Improve Trust And Communication, Sarah Crandell Monday

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Global virtual team (GVT) members’ inability to effectively build trust and communication has the potential to negatively impact organizational outcomes. Organizational leaders are concerned with team members’ inability to build trust and communication, as it is the leading cause of reduced productivity and efficiency levels within GVTs. Grounded in the social exchange theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies GVT leaders use to improve trust and communication among GVT members. The participants were 18 GVT business leaders from six organizations located in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Data were collected using semistructured …

Lived Experiences Of African American Women Encountering Barriers In Executive Level Advancement In The Business Services Industry, Sheriley Yvonne Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

It is unknown how African American Women (AAW) perceived experiences involving the experience of the barriers faced when attempting to advance to executive levels in their corporate jobs. Existing literature showed that AAWs experienced several forms of discrimination, including racism, oppression, and limitations which were critical to examining their work experience and progressing up the corporate ladder. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to develop an understanding of lived experiences of AAWs when they apply for and fail to reach executive positions in the business services industry. The glass ceiling theory (GCT) and intersectionality theory (IT) were used …

Mental Health Experiences Of Black Males Beyond Juvenile Delinquency, Jasmine D. Spratling

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Incarceration rates around the United States continue to increase for Black male adolescents. These numbers are even more significant in Atlanta, where youth spend time in juvenile detention centers and return soon once released. Summary findings from existing research showed the lack of mental health services provided once a youth has been released from incarceration, but a lack of specifics around the services needed remains. The purpose of the current study was to explore the experiences of Black male adolescents who received little to no trauma informed care post-incarceration. A qualitative, phenomenological approach was used to conduct semistructured interviews with …

Exploring The Perception Of Patients, Providers, And Healthcare Leaders Of The 15-20 Minute Primary Care Visit, Zuhur Hassan Ahmed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While primary care plays a vital role in health maintenance and disease prevention, patients’ visits with primary care providers (PCP) are only 15-20 minutes on average. This visit length does not leave ample time for holistic care for patients with low socioeconomic backgrounds, who might also have psychosocial issues alongside their chronic conditions. Employing a qualitative multiple case study research design, this study explored participants' perceptions about the 15–20-minute visit duration with PCPs. Guided by the triple aim framework of improving patient healthcare outcomes, patient satisfaction with care, and cost of care per capita, this study answered the research question …

Special Educators’ Experiences With Professional Development And Implementation Support In Using Digital Social Stories For Students With Autism, Simbi Mignon Animashaun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students with autism need social skills to succeed academically, which can be fostered with the use of digital social stories (DSSs). While many special educators are expected to use DSSs to teach social skills because of increased elementary autism diagnoses, a significant number of DSS users are unprepared. The problem addressed in this qualitative project study was that special educators were not receiving adequate professional development and implementation support to use DSSs to teach autism-related social skills. The purpose of this research was to explore the special educators’ experiences with professional development and implementation support. The concerns-based adoption model and …

U.S. Senate And House Perspectives On Missile Defense Systems Opposed By Russia And China, Constance Valarie Baroudos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The United States and its allies and partners have deployed three missile defense systems to protect against Iranian and North Korean missile threats: the European Phased Adaptive Approach, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, and Ground-based Missile Defense. Russia and China oppose these systems because they view them as undermining their strategic interests. The purpose of the present study was to better understand the perspectives of Senate and House Armed Services Committee HASC members about the three missile defense systems in congressional hearings. The three models of the congressional behavior model, the preference, simple party, and asymmetric categories, and neorealism and …

The Lived Experiences Of Civilian Review Board Members, Vereen Charmaine Barton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe purpose of this transcendental phenomenological research was to describe the lived experiences of investigative civilian review board (CRB) members. The central research question of the study examined the lived experiences of investigative civilian review board members as it related to recruitment and selection, training, and support. Eight participants from two CRBs in the Northeast and Midwest formed a random sample of six females and two males. Three data collection instruments were used in this research (in-depth interviews, writing prompts, and personal narratives) to elicit information. The instruments were designed to prompt information about CRB members' experiences based on the …