Digital Commons Network^™

Social Skill Development In Teenagers With Autism Who Are Homeschooled In Rural Southwest: A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experience Of Caregivers, Sondra J. Bistline

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the caregiver's lived experience of social skill development in their teenage or young adult students who have autism. Vygotsky's social constructivism theory frames the structure of social development within the student's family, community, and local culture. The central research question guiding this study was, what were the caregivers' lived experiences of social interactions with their homeschooled teenager or young adult diagnosed with autism? All participants were caregivers of teenage or young adult students diagnosed with autism who received all or part of their schooling through homeschooling, micro-schooling, or habilitation services …

The Forgotten American Heroes: A Phenomenological Study, Lynda Burke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study explored the experiences of service providers who work first-hand with homeless veterans in Tennessee. Americans seem to view homeless people as inferior to others without considering the factors that have led these individuals to become homeless. They fail to acknowledge the hardships they face, the daily challenges to their mental health, and the invisible wounds that go unnoticed and are often overlooked. As more men and women have returned to the United States following their service in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other global locations, a significant number of combat veterans are struggling with untreated or unmanaged mental health …

Provider Implementation Of Probiotics As An Adjuvant Treatment Modality For Patients With Anxiety And Or Depression In A Primary Care Setting, Sarah Dedmon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The prevalence of anxiety and depression among Americans is growing rapidly. Patients are seeking out traditional treatments as offered by their primary care providers, but also frequently look toward integrative or complementary methods of managing their symptoms. The use of dietary supplements is at an all-time high, yet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate these substances for potency and purity or evaluate them using quality standards as it does pharmaceuticals. Most providers lack education regarding the physiological interaction their patients may experience when using these substances and are naïve to their place in primary care medicine. The …

Servant Leader Choral Conductor: The Effect Of Servant Leadership In Community Choirs And Community Partnerships, Zachary Debois Cooke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite servant leadership primarily establishing itself as an appropriate leadership style, there is little research on how servant leadership affects community choirs in music education. Community choirs are prevalent in music education due to the number of individuals seeking choral experiences and community gatherings to sing and express their musicality. This hermeneutic qualitative phenomenological study explores the leadership styles of community choir choral conductors and their perspectives on servant leadership. By surveying current choral conductors of community choirs and community partnerships, this qualitative study identifies the overarching leadership styles and servant leadership qualities that are consciously considered or not implemented …

The Lived Experiences Of Active-Duty Military Parents Caring For A Child With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In Grades 6 - 12: A Phenomenological Study, Anna Marie Douglas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of active-duty, Reserve, and National Guard military parents concerning their efforts to cultivate an environment of academic success for their children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Bowlby and Ainsworth's theory on attachment guided this study, explaining the correlation between insecure attachments and the display of worsening ADHD symptoms when breaking or not adequately establishing a secure attachment. The method this research study used was phenomenological hermeneutic. The sample for this study included 10 active-duty and Reserve military parents with at least one child diagnosed with ADHD and …

The Effects Of An Emotional Intelligence And Empathy Interactive Education Program With Prelicensure Nursing Students, Karen Browne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A dissertation is presented on a teaching program for emotional intelligence (EI) and empathy with a cohort of nursing students enrolled in a traditional, undergraduate nursing college in the Northeast region of the United States (US). An interactive teaching program was used with various media to present new material and learning activities during the spring semester. The importance of teaching nursing students the aspects of EI was to prepare them for the rigors of the profession by allowing them to delve into their own self-awareness and emotional regulation, which in turn helps to connect with patients in a more robust …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Onboarding Practices: Mid-Atlantic Region Public High School Teachers' Lived Experiences, Tiffany M. Draper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to understand the lived experiences of Mid-Atlantic region public high school teachers participating in onboarding practices, which provides insight into best practices to increase teacher self-efficacy and decrease attrition rates. The theory guiding this study is Albert Bandura's theory of self-efficacy, as it links ineffective and effective onboarding practices for new high school teachers with their levels of teacher self-efficacy, aligning with teacher retention and attrition rates. Bandura's theory of self-efficacy provided a framework with which to answer the central research question and three sub-questions: (CRQ) What are the lived experiences of …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of College Graduates With Chronic Illnesses Who Faced Health Threats And Interruptions In Their Daily Activities, Paula J. Uzuka

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses who graduated from college while facing health threats that often interrupted their daily activities. The theory that guided this study was Bandura's self-efficacy theory. Bandura defined self-efficacy as what a person understands about their ability to accomplish specific goals. In addition, Leventhal's construct, the common-sense model of self-regulation, provided the substructure of Bandura's theory, illustrating that with the right guidance, individuals can make decisions and manage their own health. An individual can use the theory and model to determine the necessary actions to …

Virtual Versus Tangible Math Manipulatives: A Quasi-Experimental Study Comparing The Impact Of Different Types On Mathematical Understanding, Haley L. Gullion

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design study was to measure the effects of both types of manipulatives on student mathematical understanding of 1st and 4th grade, Title I students. This data is needed for teachers to make informed decisions regarding their instructional choices. 270 participants were separated into three groups based on which type of manipulative their classroom teacher used during instruction: physical, virtual, or both. After 10 weeks of instruction with these manipulatives, student achievement was calculated for each student utilizing the Universal Screeners for Number Sense, and the groups within each grade level band …

Breathing In Danger: Understanding The Multifaceted Impact Of Air Pollution On Health Impacts, Fu Chen, Wanyue Zhang, Manar Fawzi Bani Mfarrej, Muhammad Hamzah Saleem, Khalid Ali Khan, Jing Ma, António Raposo, Heesup Han

All Works

Air pollution, a pervasive environmental threat that spans urban and rural landscapes alike, poses significant risks to human health, exacerbating respiratory conditions, triggering cardiovascular problems, and contributing to a myriad of other health complications across diverse populations worldwide. This article delves into the multifarious impacts of air pollution, utilizing cutting-edge research methodologies and big data analytics to offer a comprehensive overview. It highlights the emergence of new pollutants, their sources, and characteristics, thereby broadening our understanding of contemporary air quality challenges. The detrimental health effects of air pollution are examined thoroughly, emphasizing both short-term and long-term impacts. Particularly vulnerable populations …

Consumers’ Financial Literacy In Poland - The Research And The Resulting Conclusions, Andrzej Bień, Łukasz Gębski

Journal of Banking and Financial Economics

Background & Purpose of the article: The research paper raises important issues in the field of consumer financial literacy in Poland. The authors note that efforts made in financial education are not fully effective and the number of wrong decisions made by consumers is high. The study led to two interesting observations: high self-assessment of knowledge is not confirmed in practice. The mistakes made do not result solely from the lack of knowledge of consumers. They are very often a result of their personality and a way of perceiving reality.

Methods: The authors compared Polish and foreign research results in …

The Moderating Effect Of Leadership Style On The Relationship Between Perceptions Of Organizational Justice And The Performance Appraisal Satisfaction Of Sport Employees, Jeffrey S. White

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation is an examination of how leadership style influences the relationship between sport employee perceptions of organizational justice and their satisfaction with performance appraisals. Sport employees are integral to the sport ecosystem, contributing to the physical, mental, and professional development of athletes, the operational success.

Focusing on these crucial constructs, the purpose of this study is to examine the moderating effect of leadership style on the relationship between organizational justice and performance appraisal satisfaction among sport employees. This quantitative empirical research utilizes PLS-SEM and multiple regression analysis with an aim to confirm the relationship between organizational justice and PAS …

A Review On Machine Learning Implementation For Predicting And Optimizing The Mechanical Behaviour Of Laminated Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites, Sherif Sorour

Mechanical Engineering

The utilization of Machine Learning (ML) techniques in the analysis of the mechanical behavior of fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) has been increasingly applied in composite materials. The ability to achieve high levels of accuracy, coupled with a reduction in computational cost once the ML models are trained, presents a powerful tool for optimization and in-depth analysis of laminated FRP. This review paper aims to provide insight into the emergence of this trend, offer an overview of various ML algorithms and related subtopics, and demonstrate different implementations of ML from recent studies with a specific focus on the design and optimization of …

Pedagogical Disruptive Innovations And Positive Deviance During Covid-19 Mandatory School Closures: A Case Study Of Public-School Teachers In San Juan County, New Mexico, David R. Mcgee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to discover and describe the types of positive deviance and disruptive innovation during the non-voluntary transition to remote learning for teachers from San Juan County, New Mexico. This study investigated how classroom teachers altered their pedagogical practices from their face-to-face classroom juxtaposed to their non-voluntary transition to the remote classroom. Positive deviance is defined as any outcome is unique, non-normative, extraordinary, uncommon, and honorable and is perceived as positive to the organization. Disruptive innovation is a business theory that explains how a good enough innovation can be pushed through as a …

Differences In Students' Self-Esteem, Prosocial Behaviors, Classroom Climate, And Participation In Read To Dogs Programs: A Quantitative Comparative Study, Kimberley Anna Brush

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This anonymous quantitative quasi-experimental pre-post-test study was designed to determine differences in students' self-esteem, the performance of prosocial behaviors, and teachers' perceptions of the overall classroom climate after participating in Read to Dogs (RTD) programs in elementary and middle schools in East Central, New Jersey. Students with reading difficulties have higher incidences of low self-esteem and self-concept, depression, and anxiety that result in internalizing and externalizing behaviors that impact the classroom climate for all students socially and academically. Student participants completed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and teacher participants completed the grade-appropriate version of the …

Quasi-Experimental Study Of The Impact Spaced Practice And Retrieval Have On Mathematical Fact Fluency In Third-, Fourth-, And Fifth-Grade Students, Stefanie L. Breneman-Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group study was to determine if there is a difference in mathematical fact fluency among third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students with varying practice methods and spacing intervals while controlling for pre-test scores. The study filled the literature gap by examining the impact of each variable and their combined additive effect in a third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade student population. Given the importance of math fact fluency on overall math performance, finding the most effective means for building retention is imperative. The sample included 196 third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students. Data collection was completed …

Examining The Oxidation States Of Metals In Aerosols Emitted By Electronic Cigarettes, Kashala Fabrice Kapiamba, Stephen Yaw Owusu, Yangtao Wu, Yue-Wern Huang, Yi Jiang, Yang Wang

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Electronic cigarettes (ECs) emit many toxic substances, including metals, that can pose a threat to users and the environment. The toxicity of the emitted metals depends on their oxidation states. Hence, this study examines the oxidation states of metals observed in EC aerosols. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of the filters that collected EC aerosols identified the oxidation states of five primary metals (based on surface sample analysis), including chromium(III) (close to 100%) under low power setting while a noticeable amount of chromium(VI) (15%) at higher power settings of the EC, and copper(II) (100%), zinc(II) (100%), nickel(II) (100%), lead(II) (65%), and …

Editorial: Ethical Considerations In Electronic Data In Healthcare, Dheya Mustafa, Mousa Al-Kfairy

All Works

No abstract provided.

A Cultural Responsiveness Model To Support Parent's Practices In Families With Autistic Children: A Culturally Relevant Self- Compassion Program For Nigerian Mothers, Ekene Anastesia Odumegwu

Individual, Family, and Community Education ETDs

The goal of this intervention of self-compassion, mindfulness, and self-kindness focuses on training Nigerian mothers raising autistic children to enhance their psychological well-being. The intervention will assist Nigeran mothers living in Nigeria with developing their self- compassion. Building resilience for Nigerian mothers' self-compassion will help them to improve their physical and psychological health by becoming more mindful of their own pains and suffering when raising their child with Autism. Also, the proposed intervention will help Nigerian mothers to focus their attention and energy on how ways that might reduce the trauma and challenges experienced in parenting children with autism.

This …

Chemical And Morphological Characterization Of Airborne Particulate Matter At The Jackpile-Paguate Mine, Pueblo Of Laguna, New Mexico: Implications For Potential Metals Exposure, Andreanna C. Roros

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The inhalation of windblown particulate matter (PM) derived from abandoned uranium mines (AUMs) is a potential environmental health risk to Native American communities that live in proximity to these sites. However, the aeolian transport of metal-bearing PM from AUMs, as a potential exposure pathway, has not been investigated in any detail. In this study, we sampled airborne particulate matter within the Jackpile Mine located on the lands of the Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico using passive sampling methods to understand the characteristics of dust within the mine site. The objective was to determine the elemental concentrations, mineralogy, and morphology of …

Theoretical And Spectroscopic Insights Into Molybdenum- And Tungsten-Sulfur Bonding, Jesse Lepluart

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

Molybdenum and tungsten chemistry in biology is dominated by bonding interactions with sulfur and the other chalcogens. The highly-conserved structures of these enzymes’ active sites suggest an early evolution in the history of life, with molybdenum and/or tungsten enzymes likely expressed by the last universal common ancestor. Despite their active site similarities, molybdenum and tungsten enzymes catalyze a diverse array of reactions via equally diverse mechanisms. A deep understanding of the electronic structures of these enzyme active sites and their catalytic intermediates is key to understanding this remarkable chemistry.

The work presented here aims to deepen the understanding of molybdenum …

Media Road To Violence: A Process Of Racialization Of Rohingya Ethnic Minority, Md Didarul Islam

Communication ETDs

ABSTRACT

This dissertation examines how ideologically loaded news media representations advanced the complex and ambiguous process of racialization of the Rohingyas, an ethnic Muslim minority in Myanmar. This study first interrogates the dominant patterns in news sourcing and thematic emphasis in the coverage of Rohingya; secondly, it sheds light on how these representations contribute to reproducing dominant ideologies and power relations. I selected two English-language newspapers published in Myanmar: The Global New Light of Myanmar and the Myanmar Times. I applied the notions of media representation (Hall, 1997), ideology (Althusser, 2007), and racialization (Garner & Selod, 2015) as the central …

White Corn Boy Yellow Corn Girl Find Success On Their Educational Journeys, Sarah Curley

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

This study aimed to provide a narrative analysis of the storied Diné beliefs and values of three Yellow Corn Girls and one White Corn Boy. My research questions were: How do Diné language and culture influence high school students’ success in high school? What cultural beliefs and values contribute to the success of high school students transitioning into their first year of community college? Utilizing the theoretical framework of The Beauty Way of Life (BWOL) model and its philosophies, I gathered narrative data using individual interviews. I examined the impact of the Diné language, cultural beliefs, and values on their …

The Role Of Pharmacy In Supporting Safe And Effective Transitions Of Care, Laressa Bethishou

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Goal To inform pharmacists and pharmacy technicians of the importance of and processes for conducting transitions of care when patients are moving among healthcare settings.
Summary A narrative review of recent events and research into transitions of care (TOCs) — the movement of patients from one healthcare setting to another. To be conducted safely and effectively, the entire patient care team must optimize patient care and communicate up-to-date information among its members. As the medication experts on the healthcare team, pharmacists are well poised to receive and share information that impacts medication use and patient safety. Pharmacy technicians can play …

Associations Of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurements With High-Sensitivity Troponin And Natriuretic Peptide Levels In Sprint, Nikit Venishetty, Jarett D Berry, James A De Lemos, Elaine Wu, Minjae Lee, Paul E Drawz, Vijay Nambi, Christie M Ballantyne, Anthony A Killeen, Joachim H Ix, Michael G Shlipak, Simon B Ascher

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Nighttime blood pressure (BP) has greater prognostic importance for cardiovascular disease (CVD) than daytime BP, but less is known about nighttime and daytime BP associations with measures of subclinical CVD.

Methods: Among 897 Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial Study (SPRINT) participants with 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring obtained near the 27-month study visit, 849 (95%) had N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) measured at the 24-month study visit. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the associations of nighttime and daytime BP with cardiac biomarker levels.

Results: The mean age was 69 ± 12 …

Electroencephalogram Alpha Oscillations In Stroke Recovery: Insights Into Neural Mechanisms From Combined Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation And Mirror Therapy In Relation To Activities Of Daily Life, Chia-Lun Liu, Ya-Wen Tu, Ming-Wei Li, Ku-Chou Chang, Chih-Hung Chang, Chih-Kuang Chen, Ching-Yi Wu

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The goal of stroke rehabilitation is to establish a robust protocol for patients to live independently in community. Firstly, we examined the impact of 3 hybridized transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)-mirror therapy interventions on activities of daily life (ADL) in stroke patients. Secondly, we explored the underlying therapeutic mechanisms with theory-driven electroencephalography (EEG) indexes in the alpha band. This was achieved by identifying the unique contributions of alpha power in motor production to ADL in relation to the premotor cortex (PMC), primary cortex (M1), and Sham tDCS with mirror therapy. The results showed that, although post-intervention ADL improvement was comparable …

Antitumor Activity Of A Pyrrolobenzodiazepine Antibody-Drug Conjugate Targeting Lgr5 In Preclinical Models Of Neuroblastoma, Jianghua Tu, Yukimatsu Toh, Adela M Aldana, Jake J Wen, Ling Wu, Joan Jacob, Li Li, Sheng Pan, Kendra S Carmon, Qingyun J Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a cancer of the peripheral nervous system found in children under 15 years of age. It is the most frequently diagnosed cancer during infancy, accounting for ~12% of all cancer-related deaths in children. Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) is a membrane receptor that is associated with the primary tumor formation and metastasis of cancers in the gastrointestinal system. Remarkably, high levels of LGR5 are found in NB tumor cells, and high LGR5 expression is strongly correlated with poor survival. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are monoclonal antibodies that are covalently linked to cell-killing cytotoxins to deliver the payloads …

Intratumoral Microbiome Of Adenoid Cystic Carcinomas And Comparison With Other Head And Neck Cancers, Tatiana V Karpinets, Yoshitsugu Mitani, Chia-Chi Chang, Xiaogang Wu, Xingzhi Song, Ivonne I Flores, Lauren K Mcdaniel, Yasmine M Hoballah, Fabiana J Veguilla, Renata Ferrarotto, Lauren E Colbert, Nadim J Ajami, Robert R Jenq, Jianhua Zhang, Andrew P Futreal, Adel K El-Naggar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, usually slow-growing yet aggressive head and neck malignancy. Despite its clinical significance, our understanding of the cellular evolution and microenvironment in ACC remains limited. We investigated the intratumoral microbiomes of 50 ACC tumor tissues and 33 adjacent normal tissues using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. This allowed us to characterize the bacterial communities within the ACC and explore potential associations between the bacterial community structure, patient clinical characteristics, and tumor molecular features obtained through RNA sequencing. The bacterial composition in the ACC was significantly different from that in adjacent normal salivary tissue, and the …

Author Correction: Brafv600e-Mutant Metastatic Nsclc: Disease Overview And Treatment Landscape, David Planchard, Rachel E Sanborn, Marcelo V Negrao, Aria Vaishnavi, Egbert F Smit

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Single-Cell Total-Rna Profiling Unveils Regulatory Hubs Of Transcription Factors, Yichi Niu, Jiayi Luo, Chenghang Zong

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Recent development of RNA velocity uses master equations to establish the kinetics of the life cycle of RNAs from unspliced RNA to spliced RNA (i.e., mature RNA) to degradation. To feed this kinetic analysis, simultaneous measurement of unspliced RNA and spliced RNA in single cells is greatly desired. However, the majority of single-cell RNA-seq chemistry primarily captures mature RNA species to measure gene expressions. Here, we develop a one-step total-RNA chemistry-based single-cell RNA-seq method: snapTotal-seq. We benchmark this method with multiple single-cell RNA-seq assays in their performance in kinetic analysis of cell cycle by RNA velocity. Next, with LASSO regression …