Digital Commons Network^™

Integrating Military-Acquired Iso Quality Management Principles Into Civilian Employment: A Phenomenological Study Of Post-9/11 Veterans, Paul Encinias

Dissertations

Purpose: This qualitative phenomenological study explored how post-9/11 U.S. military veterans describe their lived experiences of understanding and applying four ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Principles (leadership, engagement of people, process approach, and evidence-based decision making) during the transition to civilian employment. This study further sought to understand how veterans articulated these competencies across employment stages and how those competencies were recognized within civilian organizations.

Methodology: This qualitative phenomenological study used semistructured interviews with 10 post-9/11 U.S. military veterans residing in the United States who had separated from active duty and were engaged in the transition to civilian employment. Participants were …

From Glass Ceilings To Balustrades: The Barriers And Supports In Gender-Balanced Corporate Boards Through The Lens Of Activity Theory, Erica Joy Thompson Dias

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine, through the lens of activity theory (AT), barriers individuals on public company boards of directors experienced in achieving or maintaining gender balance and supports that mitigated those barriers.

Methodology: Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 16 directors representing 13 gender-balanced public company boards. Data were coded using the AT framework, which conceptualizes human activity through interacting components including subject, object, rules, tools, community, and division of labor. In this study, barriers were tensions that obstructed progress toward gender balance, and supports were methods, resources, or actions that mitigated those …

Student Perceptions Of Academic Support Systems: A Sequential Mixed Methods Analysis Of Persistence, James Anderson

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed-methods study was to assess the perceived influence of first-year institutional support services on student retention from the first to the second year at regional public universities in the Northeastern United States.

Methodology: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was used. In the quantitative phase, 437 retained second-year students completed the researcher-designed Retention Support Impact Survey to assess service utilization and perceived effectiveness. In the qualitative phase, 10 students participated in semi-structured interviews to provide deeper contextual insight into the numerical data.

Findings: The data indicated a disparity between service utilization rates and student-reported …

How Political Intelligence Sets Exemplary Mid-Level Military Women Leaders Apart, Rita Y. Ovette

Dissertations

ABSTRACT How Political Intelligence Sets Exemplary Mid-level Military Women Leaders Apart by Rita Yvette Ovete Purpose: The purpose of this exploratory phenomenological study was to identify and describe the political intelligence strategies that mid-level military women use as they respond to leadership challenges based on Reffo and Wark’s (2014) five facets of political intelligence (futurity, power, empathy with purpose, trust, and versatility). A secondary purpose of the study was to explore how mid-level military women explain their use of political intelligence strategies to support their career success and tenure while navigating leadership challenges. Methodology: This phenomenological study explored the lived …

Exploring Exemplary Leadership: A Phenomenological Study Of Campus Presidents, Krysten Stone

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe the strategies used by exemplary campus presidents to build and lead resilient teams in for-profit vocational colleges, grounded in Kirkman and Stoverink’s (2023) team resources framework.

Methodology: This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 10 exemplary campus presidents serving in for-profit vocational colleges throughout California’s Central Valley. Purposeful sampling was used to identify participants who met the study’s criteria. Data were collected through semistructured, open-ended interviews and the analysis of four organizational artifacts including strategic plans, communication workflows, meeting structures, and leadership models. Data were systematically coded …

Elementary General Education Teachers' (Tk–1) Experiences Implementing Inclusive Practices For Students With Disabilities, Emily Ruth Engelson

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative multi-case study was to examine the challenges elementary general education teachers (TK–6) face, including confidence and skills, when working to successfully include students with disabilities in their classrooms. The study also sought to identify the most valuable professional development experiences, the role of grade-level collaboration in building teachers' capacity, and the administrative support and resources that contribute to teachers' success in including students with disabilities.

Methodology: This qualitative multi-case study employed semi-structured interviews with six TK–first grade general education teachers in Orange County, California, each with at least one year of experience including a …

Walking On A Tightrope: Women And Managers Navigating Maternity Leave And Return-To-Work, Rachel R. Kalvert

Dissertations

Purpose: This qualitative phenomenological study explored how professional women experience maternity leave and return-to-work, focusing on how managerial communication shapes perceptions of career, competence, belonging, and career progression. The study involved professional women who returned to the same organization full-time from 6 months to 3 years after maternity leave.Methodology: Fourteen professional women were recruited via snowball sampling and listservs. Data were collected through Zoom interviews. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and received interview questions in advance. The interview guide aligned with the study's three questions. After the interview, participants reviewed AI-generated transcript summaries for accuracy; and participants were given a …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Principals’ Transformational Leadership And Its Impact On Job Satisfaction In Rural California, Pesach Walter

Dissertations

Purpose: This phenomenological study explored how early-career teachers in rural California public schools perceive their principals’ transformational leadership behaviors and how those perceptions influence job satisfaction, retention, and leadership effectiveness.

Methodology: A qualitative phenomenological design examined the lived experiences of early-career teachers in rural California K–12 public schools. Five participants with three to five years of experience were selected by purposive sampling; rurality was defined by National Center for Education Statistics locale codes 41, 42, and 43. Data were gathered through semi-structured, 60-minute Zoom interviews guided by a researcher-developed protocol based on Bass’s Four I’s framework. Transcripts were coded in …

An Explanatory Mixed-Methods Study Identifying And Describing The Perceived Impact Of Five Disruptive Career Skills On Women’S Career Advancement To An Executive Leadership, Roque Ramirez

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this explanatory mixed-methods study was to identify and describe the perceived impact of Johnson and Mohr’s (2019) five disruptive career skills on the career advancement of female chief petty officers with a military background as they progressed into a leadership position.Methodology: This explanatory mixed-methods study examined the experienced of eight female chief petty officers regarding the use of personal disruption strategies. Participants were selected through purposive sampling based on predetermined eligibility criteria and recommendations. Data were collected and analyzed by calculating means scores for quantitative responses and identifying qualitative themes related to the five personal disruption …

Practices Alternative Education Principals Use To Create An Infinite Mindset In Their Schools To Inspire Extraordinary Results, Renee Gates

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe how exemplary alternative education principals perceive the practices of Simon Sinek’s Infinite Mindset Framework are embedded within their organizations to inspire the achievement of extraordinary results. A further purpose of this study was to understand the organizational supports and barriers these exemplary leaders perceive affect the development of an infinite mindset.

Methodology: Interviews were used to explore and describe how exemplary alternative high school principals perceive the five practices of Sinek’s Infinite Mindset are embedded within their organizations. The study is intended to contribute to and extend current …

Precision Metagenomics Reveals Microbial Landscape In Acute Upper Respiratory Infections: A Comprehensive Dataset, Sadia Almas, Rob E. Carpenter, Vaibhav K. Tamrakar, Anuradha Singh, Aditya Sharma, Rahul Sharma

Human Resource Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objectives The comprehension of the microbial composition in upper respiratory tract infections is pivotal for the progression of diagnostic and treatment methodologies. This article presents a dataset derived from Precision Metagenomic next-generation sequencing using hybridization capture-based targeted sequencing. Nasopharyngeal samples from 24 patients with acute URIs were analyzed using the Illumina®/IDbyDNA Respiratory Pathogen ID/ AMR panel. The dataset contains a wealth of information on the composition of the microbiota, including the relative abundance of known pathogens and their potential clinical significance. Data description This dataset serves as a valuable asset for future research in respiratory medicine, infectious disease epidemiology, antimicrobial …

(Re-)Developing A Library Faculty Mentoring Program, Curtis L. Kendrick, Sasha Frizzell

Library Scholarship

This article examines the redevelopment of a faculty mentoring program in a large academic library, situating it within the broader literature on academic librarianship and mentoring. It traces historical developments, innovative models, and psychosocial dimensions of mentoring, while presenting a case study from a northeastern R1 university library. A key contribution of this work is its focus on organizational readiness: the alignment of mentoring program design with institutional culture, faculty preparedness, and administrative capacity. The article emphasizes the importance of intentional matching, role clarity, and sustainability as essential elements for successful mentoring, and argues that mentoring should be viewed as …

Case Study: Building The Next Generation Of Inclusive Leaders Collaborative High Impact Practices For Student Workers With Campus, Elise Ferer, Sharon Bunch-Nuñez, Richie Sebuharara

Library Scholarship

In this chapter, we address inclusive leadership as it pertains to student employment in academic libraries. We do this by describing the workshops that have been facilitated for our student employees and delivered by a staff member from our campus’s Multicultural Resource Center (MRC). We pair this with information on how our libraries’ student super- visors incorporate inclusive leadership in their day-to-day supervision of student employees. Student supervisors have been successful in using these principles in their work and modeling inclusive leadership for our student employees.

Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma With Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis Case Study, Dasaani Brown

Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Ultrasound Projects

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common form of thyroid malignancy and typically presents as a painless, progressively enlarging neck mass. This case study describes a 25-year-old male presenting with a palpable left-sided neck mass, unexplained weight loss, and shallow breathing during sleep. Diagnostic evaluation with ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) revealed bilateral thyroid nodules and extensive cervical lymphadenopathy. The findings were deemed highly suspicious for malignancy. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of PTC. The patient subsequently underwent total thyroidectomy with bilateral neck dissection. The overall prognosis is favorable, as PTC is amenable to treatment …

Left Atrial Myxoma: A Case Study, Hannah Phan

Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Ultrasound Projects

This case study describes a 50 year old female who presented to the hospital with dyspnea, worsening shortness of breath, when lying supine, and exercise intolerance for several weeks. A transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) revealed a large left atrial mass attached to both mitral valve leaflets, suggestive of a myxoma. A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) was performed the following day, confirming the presence of the mass and measuring approximately 3.8 × 3.18 cm. The myxoma appeared mobile and prolapsed towards the mitral valve during diastole, resulting in functional mitral stenosis. Left atrial myxomas are the most common primary cardiac tumors and can …

Tetralogy Of Fallot With Pulmonary Atresia And Major Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries: A Case Report, Evelia Nakapaahu

Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Ultrasound Projects

This case study describes a six-month old female with 22q11.2 deletion (DiGeorge Syndrome) presenting with low oxygen levels, pre diagnosed of a complex congenital pathology of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)/Pulmonary Atresia (PA)/Major Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries (MAPCAS) in fetal echocardiogram and is scheduled for surgical repair. The transthoracic echocardiogram showed a ventricular septal defect, aortic override, right ventricular hypertrophy, hypoplastic branch pulmonary arteries with confluence, and flow from major aortopulmonary arteries. First, the patient went into catheterization for assessment of the patient’s hemodynamics and pulmonary vessels, which results showed no hemodynamic instability or arrythmias. Weeks later, surgery was performed resulting in …

Medullary Nephrocalcinosis In A Patient With Medullary Sponge Kidney: A Case Report, Sagal Khalif

Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Ultrasound Projects

Medullary nephrocalcinosis is characterized by calcium deposition within the renal medulla and is often associated with recurrent nephrolithiasis, metabolic, or congenital renal conditions. This case involves a 70-year-old female patient whose medical history includes both a prior diagnosis of medullary sponge kidney and multiple occurrences of kidney stone formation. She presented for evaluation of dysuria and hematuria. Renal ultrasound was performed and demonstrated echogenic renal pyramids, consistent with medullary nephrocalcinosis. Additional computed tomography (CT) imaging was performed to assess the extent of the calcification and evaluate for new or persistent kidney stones. This case demonstrates the importance of continued imaging …

Echocardiography Evaluation Of Aortic Dissection: A Case Study, Alyssa Garvey

Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Ultrasound Projects

Aortic dissection is a deadly condition where the layers of the aorta tear apart, often causing sharp pain and a lack of blood flow to vital organs. A 55-year-old male presented with worsening shortness of breath, dyspnea on exertion, and peripheral edema. A transthoracic echocardiogram and computed tomography angiogram were performed and uncovered an ascending aortic aneurysm and a combined Stanford A and B aortic dissection. The patient was rushed into emergency surgery where a Bio-Bentall Procedure was performed. Due to lack of insurance, the patient put off receiving medical aid causing his condition to progress for the worse. Improved …

Student Scholars: Access-To-Justice Research In The Law School Direct Representation Clinic, Claire Johnson Raba

UIC Law Open Access Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Testing The Influence Of Increased Predation On The Evolution Of Morphological Coloration Plasticity In Trinidadian Killifish (Anablepsoides Hartii), Alyssa M. Laux

Biology Theses

The ability to camouflage is a widespread trait in both vertebrates and invertebrates that enhances survival in risky environments. The ability of organisms to respond to shifts in environmental conditions and change color is a conspicuous example of camouflage. Such coloration plasticity can occur rapidly (seconds to minutes) versus longer periods of time (days to months). There are numerous examples of physiological coloration plasticity (short-term) and morphological coloration plasticity (long-term). Yet, there are few tests of the conditions that drive the evolution of physiological vs. morphological coloration plasticity. In this study we use Trinidadian killifish (Anablepsoides hartii) as …

The Mediating Effect Of Socioeconomic Status And Persistent Poverty On Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Pediatric Cancer Mortality In The United States, Josiane Kabayundo, Apu Das, Cheng Zheng, Emma Hymel, Krishtee Napit, Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic (SE) factors have been shown to mediate racial and ethnic disparities in adult cancer mortality. However, evidence in pediatric cancer is limited, especially at finer geographic levels.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the mediating effect of socioeconomic status (SES) and persistent poverty in racial and ethnic disparities in childhood cancer mortality using census tract-level data.

METHODS: Data were obtained from the 2006-2020 SEER Incidence Data with Census Tract Attributes Database and included children 0-19 years. Neighborhood-level SES was measured using a composite variable with five categories. Census tracts were classified as persistently poor if 20% or more of the population lived …

Ebola In The Drc: A Different Problem Compounded By Violence, David Brett-Major

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

A Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) has been declared in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due to Ebola disease from Bundibugyo virus. Non-health-focused factors should be fundamental to how DRC and its partners respond to and recover from the current emergency. Filovirus emergencies are violent in every sense-the disease experience of patients and their caregivers, the tumult in impacted communities, sometimes the physical manifestations of frustration against healthcare services, the fits and starts of concerted response, and the milieu of conflict in which this emergency occurred. Yet, interpersonal and organized violence may contribute to frequency of health …

The Role Of Academic Vocabulary Instruction In Supporting Secondary English Learners' Science Proficiency, Chue Seng Her

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This literature review examines the extent to which academic vocabulary instruction influences secondary English learners’ (ELs’) science proficiency. Science learning requires students to interpret complex texts, engage in academic discourse, and construct evidence-based explanations using discipline-specific language, which may present challenges for ELs. This review provides an overview of research on language demands in science and instructional approaches that support vocabulary development. Findings indicate that academic vocabulary plays a critical role in students’ ability to comprehend scientific content, participate in discourse, and communicate reasoning effectively. Instructional approaches such as explicit vocabulary instruction, scaffolding, discourse-based strategies, reciprocal teaching, cognitive strategy instruction, …

Town Of Hill, N.H., Incorporated As New Chester, 1753, Annual Reports 2025, Hill Town Representatives

Hill, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a town/city in the state of New Hampshire.

The Treatment Of Obesity In The Context Of The Obesity Paradox In Patients With Heart Failure: A Narrative Review, Pamela L. Alebna, Sarah Martey, Anurag Mehta, Carl J. Lavie, Salvatore Carbone

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

Purpose of review

While excess adiposity is a known risk factor for incident heart failure ( HF), once the condition is established, observational data suggest that increased body mass index (BMI) may confer a survival advantage. This paradox has emphasized the underlying roles of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and body composition, particularly lean mass (LM), in influencing clinical outcomes.

Recent findings

In this review, we explore the multifaceted nature of the obesity paradox in HF, with a focus on emerging anti-obesity incretin-mimetic therapies, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and dual GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists. These agents …

Economic Exchange And Relational Work In Doubled-Up Households, Hope Harvey

Sociology Faculty Publications

Doubling up, or sharing a home, is an increasingly common way that families make ends meet. Drawing on over 170 in-depth interviews with 60 parents, I ask how doubled-up household members understand and contest their economic relationships. I show that the success of intra-household economic exchange depends not only on the amounts exchanged, but also the shared meanings behind these exchanges. Given the lack of institutionalized expectations guiding doubled-up household relationships, household members draw on competing norms, framing the household as either a solidarity unit or a series of independent nuclear family units. Although disagreement over economic relationships is common, …

Perceived Adolescent Insecure Attachment With Mothers And Fathers, Helena Pipová, Martin Dolejš, Jaroslava Suchá, Alexander T. Vazsonyi

Sociology Faculty Publications

The aim of this study was to test relationships between adolescent insecure attachment (anxious and avoidant) with mothers and fathers and three outcomes: food addiction, eating disorders, and weight status, in a large multi-regional sample of Czech adolescents. Anonymous, self-reported data were collected from 3,677 adolescents (1,688 boys, 45.9% and 1,989 girls, 54.1%). Both anxious and avoidant attachment with mothers were positively associated with food addiction (p <.001) and eating-disorder risk (p <.001). Importantly, avoidant attachment with fathers uniquely and additively explained variance in both food addiction (p <.001) and eating-disorder risk (p =.003), after controlling for maternal attachment. Weight status was unrelated to attachment and was predicted by sex and parental education only. Study findings highlight the salience of insecure attachment with both mothers and fathers for food addiction and eating disorders among adolescents and identify the parental relationship as a key potential preventative strategy.

“Policymakers Need To See This!”, Ramona G. Olvera, Peter Balvanz, Owusua Yamoah, Kesla Klingler, Marisa D. Booty, Sylvia A. Ellison, Amy Farmer, Amy K. Kuntz, Hilary L. Surratt, Carrie B. Oser, Margaret L. Mcgladrey

Sociology Faculty Publications

The use of Photovoice methods to identify and address public health challenges has evolved since this participatory action research method’s inception in the 1990s. However, there is a notable lack of research on the dissemination of Photovoice findings to promote community action and change. This study evaluates audience and Photovoice participants’ experiences of dissemination events presenting the results of 21 Photovoice projects that supplemented the HEALing Communities Study (HCS), a multistate community-based study of strategies to reduce opioid overdose deaths. The Photovoice projects captured the perspectives of people with lived experience of substance use disorder and front-line providers regarding their …

Structural And Biochemical Insights Into Phospholipase D Function And Its Small Gtpase Stimulators, Douglas Jay Marr

Electronic Dissertations and Theses, 2010-current

Phospholipase D1 (PLD1) and D2 (PLD2) are lipid metabolizing enzymes that produce phosphatidic acid and contribute to pathologies such as cancer, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, the ARF-like GTPase 11 (ARL11) was identified as an activator of PLD1, but the mechanism of this stimulation remained unknown. Here, we use in vitro biochemical assays and structural predictions to determine that ARL11 interacts with PLD1 using three adjacent, biochemically distinct interfaces, and that the ends of PLD1’s disordered loop form ordered structures to facilitate these interactions. Both PLD1 and PLD2 are peripheral membrane proteins that have differing subcellular localization important for their …

Regulatory History And Judicial Review, Todd Phillips, Anthony L. Moffa

Faculty Publications

The Administrative Procedure Act requires federal agencies to simply "incorporate in the rules adopted a concise general statement of their basis and purpose" after they receive comments from the public, and the Supreme Court ruled in Overton Park that courts are to adjudicate whether rules are arbitrary and capricious based on agencies' contemporaneous rationales. Judge-created doctrines incentivize agencies to rely on these "concise" statements to elucidate their rationales, and as a result, rulemaking preambles have ballooned in size as agencies seek to insulate themselves from critical courts.

This article contends that although the APA's statutory requirement is in tension with …