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Transnational Beings: Corner Store Entrepreneurship Of Mena Immigrants Of The Third Wave, Gabriel Al-Shaer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the role of entrepreneurship as an institution of transition for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) migrants in the United States from 1965 to the present. Drawing on oral histories, legal analysis, census data, and scholarship on racialization and migration, it argues that small cash-based businesses—particularly corner stores, gas stations, and bodegas—have functioned as critical sites through which third-wave MENA migrants navigate economic precarity, racial marginalization, and community formation. By situating contemporary entrepreneurial practices in relation to earlier forms of pack peddling among first-wave Syrian-Americans, this study demonstrates continuity in migrant strategies of survival while accounting for …

Interaction Effects Between Mentorship And Leadership Style On Employee Well-Being, Job Satisfaction, And Intent To Stay, Thomas M. Tostado

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Companies are realizing the powerful impacts of mentorship on employee well-being, intent to stay, and job satisfaction. Mentorship typically involves pairing a more experienced employee, commonly called the “mentor,” with a newly hired or junior employee, known as the “mentee.” Mentorship allows employees to professionally develop and grow within the organization while creating a network of trusted advisors. A key component of successful formal mentorship includes leadership style. The current gap in the literature does not fully explore the mentor’s leadership style on employee well-being, job satisfaction, and intent to stay, or the interaction effects between the mentor’s leadership style …

The Impact Of Transformational Leadership Tenets On The Soft Skills And Self-Efficacy Of Individuals From A Performing Arts Program: A Phenomenological Study, Carissa Hawksworth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of university students who develop soft skills and self-efficacy while working with a director who utilizes transformational leadership qualities to direct a performing arts event. The theory guiding this study was Bass’s theory of transformational leadership, which encourages leaders to develop as individuals, thereby enhancing the performance of the entire group. The central research question was, “What are the lived experiences of university students who participate in a performing arts program led by a transformational leader?” This qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenology study focused on understanding the lived …

Utilizing A Small Group In Bible Studies To Bring About The Reconciliation Of All The Groups Of An Ethnic Community Church In Brooklyn, New York, Anthony Ukasoanya E Uwakwe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many local churches in America today have problems in their ministries. The problems may stem from the untimely action or inaction by the church leaders, including ordained pastors and laity. Other problems are simple misunderstandings, such as a congregant not being reimbursed for funds used for a church event. This thesis research project will present biblical teachings on reconciliation, provide a framework for resolving financial misunderstandings in the church, and foster unity among its groups. It is important to know God’s reasons for being reconciled in the fellowship of the church. The triangular methodology employed uses specific scripture passages that …

Biting Hurts: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Childcare Stakeholders’ Experience When Toddlers Bite In North Texas, Sarah Elizabeth Borszich

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of participating in decision-making responses following biting incidents for key childcare stakeholders at licensed childcare centers in Northeast Texas. At this stage in the research, lived experiences of participating in decision-making responses following biting incidents were generally defined as integrated processes, perceptions, or actions taken by childcare stakeholders when engaging in decision-making after a biting incident in a childcare setting. The theories guiding this study were social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986) and sociocultural theory (Vygotsky, 1978). The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of …

The Lived Experiences Of Special Education Teachers’ Longevity In Their Field: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Terri Michele Blauvelt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand factors that influenced the motivation of special education teachers toward longevity in public K-12 schools located in the United States. This study attempted to answer the following research question: What do special education teachers perceive motivational factors toward longevity in a K-12 public school? The theory that guided this study was Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory as it relates to what motivated teachers to continue to teach long-term in K-12 public schools. A total of 11 special education teachers with ten or more years of experience participated in individual …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study On The Ethical Use Of Artificial Intelligence In Instructional Practice, Jan David Bagwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the instruction of the ethical use of artificial intelligence through the lived experiences for teachers at Little Texas High School, North Carolina. The theory guiding this study was Mishra and Koehler’s technological pedagogical content knowledge theory, which explains how teachers can use their knowledge of content, pedagogical practices, and technology to integrate the three skill sets to best instruct their students. This framework aligns with the ethical use of artificial intelligence because it recognizes artificial intelligence as a technological tool that can be used with a teacher’s content knowledge to …

Managing Religious Values Conflicts In Counseling: A Quasi-Experimental Study Exploring The Impact Of Experience, Cognitive Flexibility, Religiosity, And The Supervisory Relationship In Cases Of Religious Trauma, Nicole M. Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study sought to understand the relationships between counselor religiosity, cognitive flexibility, supervisory relationship, and cognitive dissonance related to values-based conflicts. The sample consisted of 175 clinical mental health counselors still in their master’s program, in clinical residency, or licensed less than five years. Participants must have been enrolled in or graduated from a CACREP accredited program to foster consistency in clinical training. A series of demographic questions and four previously developed assessments provided data to analyze four research questions. Results suggested counselor religiosity had a significant, positive relationship with values-based conflicts, with cognitive flexibility emerging as a potential …

The Role Of Psychological Need Satisfaction In Prosocial Rule-Breaking: Examining Leadership Moderators In The Financial Services Industry, Lucas Augustine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study examines the relationship between the satisfaction of basic psychological needs- autonomy, competence, and relatedness, and prosocial rule-breaking among employees in the financial-services industry, as well as the moderating effects of transformational and transactional leadership styles. Guided by self-determination theory and full range leadership theory, the study explores how intrinsic motivation and leadership context jointly influence ethical decision-making within highly regulated environments. Data were collected from 102 financial-services professionals through an online survey and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results indicate that autonomy was a strong positive predictor of PSRB, relatedness demonstrated a negative relationship, and competence’s …

Dual Enrollment Pathways For High School Students: A Qualitative Case Study Exploring Perceptions Of Students And Teachers Participating In A Dual Enrollment Pathway In Mercer County, Wv, Danielle Nicole Farmer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand the student and teacher perceptions regarding a dual enrollment pathway program in southern West Virginia, known as the Level Up program, which originated from West Virginia Legislature House Bill 2005, and its impact on the postsecondary decisions of students who completed one of the pathways. The theory guiding this case study is Carl Rogers Child Development Theory, as it explains why students challenge themselves to take dual enrollment courses and put themselves in more rigorous academic situations. The central research question is how a county-wide dual enrollment program influences the …

Reimagining Apologetics: Imagination As A Theological And Formative Framework For Christian Witness, Cynthia June Bracy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation argues that imagination is a theological and epistemological necessity for contemporary Christian apologetics. Traditional apologetic methods, shaped largely by Enlightenment rationalism, have emphasized logical argumentation and evidential demonstration. While these approaches remain valuable, they often fail to address the imaginative and affective dimensions through which many people in postmodern cultural contexts encounter questions of meaning, identity, and belief. In response, this study proposes an integrative apologetic framework that recovers imagination as a central dimension of Christian witness. Drawing upon interdisciplinary research in theology, philosophy, literary studies, and cultural analysis, the dissertation develops a model in which imagination, grounded …

Parental Incarceration: The Lived Experiences Of Those Left Behind, Shatoya L. Young

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Incarceration in the United States is being touted as an obscure public health crisis. Approximately 47% of male incarcerated individuals and 58% of female incarcerated individuals are parents to minors. The number of children who have experienced parental incarceration at any point in their lives is believed to be more than 5 million. Incarceration negatively impacts the lives of children, especially when children lack an understanding of their parents' incarceration. There are risk factors that increase the possibility of adverse outcomes for children of incarcerated parents, and protective factors that mitigate the risk of poor outcomes. Many of the stories …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Resilient Special Education Teachers In Jamaica, Carlene Lawrence

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of resilient special education teachers in Jamaica. The theoretical framework for this study was based on Richard Lazarus and Susan Folkman's cognitive appraisal theory, also known as the cognitive appraisal theory of stress and coping, as it is related to how special education teachers appraised and coped with stress. What did appraisal and coping look like in the lived experiences of resilient special education teachers from Jamaica? Given the nature of a transcendental phenomenological approach, which focuses on describing a phenomenon, this approach was suitable for this …

The Perceived Influence Of Co-Curricular Support Systems On The Educational Leadership And Development Of High-School-Aged Children In Single-Parent Homes In South Florida: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Jonathan A. Biles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the perceptions of co-curricular support systems regarding the educational leadership and development of high-school-aged children in single-parent homes in South Florida. Focusing on the Tri-County area of South Florida, the theory guiding this research is Erik Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development, which pertain to the adolescent stage of development. The central research question was: What is the perception of co-curricular activities' influence on the academic achievement of adolescent-aged students raised in single-parent homes? Using multiple data collection methods: questionnaires, personal interviews, and focus groups, the data gathered was used …

Intergenerational Apologetics: A Strategy For Careful Confidence, Thomas C. Farley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a subtle confusion between the objectives of evangelism and apologetics, leaving Open Door Baptist Church (ODBC) seniors unknowingly ill-equipped and intimidated to defend their Christian values. The purpose of this Doctor of Ministry research was to address that intimidation by training seniors in a dedicated faith-values curriculum to become confident apologetic communicators. The intervention leveraged the process of intergenerational values-sharing while training stakeholders to develop their own faith narratives by seamlessly integrating biblical values with relevant apologetic particulars into personal stories to be shared with their grandchildren. In this environment, participants could develop a personal faith narrative that …

The Lived Experiences Of Community College Faculty Working With Students With Cross-Categorical Disabilities: A Phenomenological Study, Michelle Rosalie Amenta

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the preparedness towards disability for faculty members at community colleges. The theory guiding this study was Oliver’s social model of disability, as the theory explained the relationship between environmental, institutional, and attitudinal barriers and disabilities. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of community college faculty who instruct students that self-disclose their cross-categorical disabilities? The research sample included thirteen faculty members from community colleges in varied disciplines across the United States. Data collection consisted of individual interviews and focus groups, with analysis using Moustakas’ modified Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen Method …

The Media's Influence On The Public's Perception Of Police Use Of Force, Kristopher D. Lauro

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Police use of force has long been a concern within law enforcement, but in recent decades, it has faced increasing scrutiny from the general public and across all sectors of society, sparking widespread debate on the practice. The rise of body-worn cameras (BWCs) and the prevalence of cell phone recordings of police incidents have amplified attention on the issue. Media representations of police use of force are influential in bringing together or shaping public opinion and often encapsulate ideological biases; the pervasive publicity associated with such incidents provides a unique opportunity for detailed examination of the underlying relationship between media …

A Father To The Fatherless: A Trauma-Informed Care Ministry For Fatherless Fathers, Delmus L. Gillis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This DMIN action research project proposed that the Bethlehem Baptist Church (BBC) did not develop ministries that specifically addressed the persistent unbiblical endemic of fatherlessness within its congregation. The initial tragedy of fatherlessness can be transformed into the beautiful design of godly families when proper attention is given to the root cause of damaged relationships and effective means of correcting abnormalities are properly instituted in the church. Therefore, the researcher created the Trauma-Informed Care Ministry for Fatherless Fathers to guide fathers who experienced fatherlessness into a biblical model of fatherhood. When the church remains silent on important matters of faith, …

Machine Learning-Based Determination Of Sex-Related Bladder Cancer Biomarkers, Joseph Pizzi

Theses

Bladder cancer exhibits sex-specific behavior, occurring more frequently in males but progressing to advanced stages more commonly in females. The activation of sex hormone receptors may explain these differences, but the exact genetic drivers remain poorly understood. Furthermore, current bladder cancer biomarkers have inconsistent sensitivities and specificities in practice, making early diagnosis a challenge. This study approaches bladder cancer biomarker discovery through machine learning techniques on gender and disease-stratified RNA-seq data. Training sets limited to differentially expressed genes were subjected to four different feature selection methods: differential gene expression analysis adjusted p-value, recursive feature elimination with support vector machine, logistic …

Simulations Of A High Ozone Episode And Heatwave Day Using A Coupled Multi-Layer Urban Canopy And Chemistry Model, H. Gamarro, W. M. Angevine, B. C. Mcdonald, R. Bornstein, P. Ramamurthy, F. Moshary, L. M. Judd, J. E. González-Cruz

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Coastal cities face critical challenges in managing ozone pollution because of high population density and complex interactions between urbanization and coastal meteorology. Using New York City (NYC) as a case study, this work examines how urban surfaces influence heatwaves, sea-breeze circulations, and boundary-layer dynamics, and how these processes shape nitrogen dioxide ((Formula presented.)) distributions and ozone formation. Observations from the 2018 Long Island Sound Tropospheric Ozone Study (LISTOS), collected with an airborne high-resolution ultraviolet–visible spectrometer, provide tropospheric (Formula presented.) column densities for evaluating the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) in multiple urban canopy configurations. Results show …

Versatile Smad2 And Smad3 Epitope-Tagged Mouse Models For Genomic Profiling Of Tgfβ Signaling: Uncovering Gdf9-Smad2/3 Targets, Zian Liao, Qian Zhang, Keisuke Shimada, Kaori Nozawa, Suni Tang, Masahito Ikawa, Diana Monsivais, Martin M Matzuk

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathways are integral for a plethora of biological processes. SMAD2 and SMAD3 are the principal transcriptional effectors of TGFβ superfamily ligands, yet quantitative, genome-wide mapping of their DNA-associated complexes under physiological contexts has remained limited due to the lack of specific, robust models. Here, we generated two versatile epitope-tagged mouse models in which endogenous SMAD2 and SMAD3 proteins are globally tagged with hemagglutinin (HA) and podoplanin (PA) sequences, respectively, enabling high-fidelity profiling of SMAD2 and SMAD3 binding across tissues. To demonstrate the broad application of our models, we exemplified the usage of our lines …

Correction: The Formation Of Tau Pore-Like Structures Is Prevalent And Cell Specific: Possible Implications For The Disease Phenotypes, Cristian A Lasagna-Reeves, Urmi Sengupta, Diana Castillo-Carranza, Julia E Gerson, Marcos Guerrero-Munoz, Juan C Troncoso, George R Jackson, Rakez Kayed

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This corrects the article "The formation of tau pore-like structures is prevalent and cell specific: possible implications for the disease phenotypes" in volume 2, 56.

Goals And Budgets: An Exploratory Study Of Sequencing In Budget Simulation Engagement, Frankline Muthomi

Public Administration Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to examine how the sequencing of budget simulations influences the alignment between priority goals and budgetary decisions. Drawing on behavioral perspectives, the study posits that two simulation sequences—goal setting to budgeting (default) and budgeting to goal setting (alternative)—shape individuals' budgetary responses, particularly the proximity between a program's total cost and the corresponding budgetary allocations. Design/methodology/approach This study employs a quasi-experimental research design using Balancing Act modules that enable participants to articulate their priority goals and corresponding resource allocations. Adult Americans (aged 18 and above) were recruited through an online crowdsourcing platform and randomly …

Multi-Organ Physiologic Deficits During Exercise Identify Clinical And Molecular Predisposition To Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction, Isabela Landsteiner, Lindsey K Stolze, Tess E Peterson, Andrew Perry, Phillip Lin, Quanhu Sheng, Shilin Zhao, Kaushik Amancherla, Michael Y Mi, Takenori Ikoma, Laura P Cohen, Ilya Giverts, Joseph Campain, Joao A C Lima, Wendy S Post, Kent D Taylor, Robert Gerszten, Stephen S Rich, Russell Tracy, Peter Durda, Alexis C Wood, Rajeev Malhotra, Jerome I Rotter, Clary Clish, Matthew Nayor, Eric R Gamazon, Ravi V Shah, Gregory D Lewis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Exercise unmasks limitations in multi-organ system reserve capacity characteristic of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, the metabolic and genetic underpinnings of exercise deficits, and their cumulative contribution to HFpEF severity and prognosis, remain incompletely understood.

Methods: We used invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing (iCPET), metabolite profiling, and genomics to simultaneously characterize seven exercise physiologic deficits in HFpEF patients: reduced exercise stroke volume and heart rate, steep pulmonary capillary wedge pressure/cardiac output (PCWP/CO) slope, elevated pulmonary vascular resistance, pulmonary mechanical limitation to exercise, impaired peripheral oxygen extraction, and obesity-related exaggerated metabolic cost of initiating exercise. We first mapped …

Transforming Sexual And Reproductive Health And Rights For Adolescent Girls In West And Central Africa, Mame Soukeye Mbaye, Sarah Engebretsen, Maty Dia, Karen Austrian

Adolescents and Young People

This brief summarizes the evidence on adolescent girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in West and Central Africa (WCA), particularly evidence from the GIRL Center’s priority countries. It explores social norms and structural barriers to adolescent girls’ SRHR, pregnancy, harmful practices, unmet need for contraception, service gaps, SRHR in conflict settings, and legal and policy barriers. The brief informs strategies and promising entry points that have the potential to transform SRHR outcomes for girls in the region.

Accelerating Adolescent Girls’ Education In West And Central Africa, Mame Soukeye Mbaye, Sarah Engebretsen, Maty Dia, Karen Austrian

Adolescents and Young People

This brief summarizes the evidence on gender inequality in education in West and Central Africa (WCA), particularly the GIRL Center’s priority countries. It explores attendance, progression, transition to secondary, and re-entry. This brief informs strategies that address persistent inequalities and promote transformative outcomes for adolescent girls in the region.

Development And Feasibility Testing Of A Video-Based Virtual Reality Bullying Safety Skills Intervention For School-Aged Children With Disabilities, Trevor C. Maxfield

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Virtual reality (VR) technology has emerged as a promising instructional tool for children with disabilities; however, research on using VR to improve safety skills in this population remains limited. The present study employed a 2-phase approach to develop and evaluate a video-based VR bullying safety skills intervention for children with disabilities. In Phase 1, bullying and applied behavior analysis experts reviewed and validated the intervention content, including the response to bullying steps, school-based scenario storyboards, and embedded behavioral procedures, rating the content as valid and technically adequate. Expert feedback informed refinements to the intervention content and the decision to transition …

Reference Proteins To Improve Core 1 And Core 2 Alzheimer's Disease Csf And Plasma Biomarkers, Linda Karlsson, Nicolas R Barthélemy, Kanta Horie, Suzanne E Schindler, Brian A Gordon, Cyrus A Raji, Tammie L S Benzinger, John C Morris, Randall J Bateman, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Concentration-based fluid biomarkers represent an informative and cost-effective way to detect and monitor Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. However, non-AD-related interindividual variation in biofluids can also affect biomarker concentrations. Here, we investigated whether normalization of CSF and plasma biomarkers to reference proteins, such as amyloid-β40 (Aβ40) and non-phosphorylated mid-region tau (np-tau), improves their robustness and reliability of representing AD pathology load. Using the Swedish BioFINDER-2 cohort [n = 1702, 50.7% male, mean (standard deviation) age 68.4 (12.2) years], we compared the associations between tau/Aβ-PET load and fluid biomarkers alone versus biomarkers in a ratio with a reference protein (Aβ40 or np-tau) …

The Reconstruction Of Beirut City Centre (Downtown) As A New Urbanism Project, Ahmed S. Attia

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

The study aims to highlight and examine the Beirut City Centre reconstruction project as an example of the concept of New Urbanism. The study covers Lebanon's geographical location, traditional house architecture, Beirut's history, urban growth, and the civil war and its effects on the city's architecture and identity. Moreover, the objectives of the reconstruction project as a New Urbanism Project were applied in the city's center and the adjacent area of the Saifi Village. The conclusion summarizes the lessons learned from applying the New Urbanism Concept to the reconstruction project.

An Assessment Of Biophilic Design Strategies Application In Selected Hostels In A Typical Tertiary Institution, Nigeria., Emokpae Erebor, Foluke Jegede, Pontip Nimlyat, Benjamin Moral

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

Designing spaces that incorporate the principles of biophilic design enhances the buildings occupants closeness to nature while also enhancing spaces connectivity and place conditions. It has environmental, health and other important benefits not only for the environment but also for the human beings that domicile around them. Firstly, this study was carried out using quantitative data obtained from 120 female students of two selected hostel facilities in a typical private University in South-West Nigeria. Secondly, observation is in identifying the actual applications where these strategies have been applied within these hostels through photographic images. This was done by identifying different …