The Great Divide: A Phenomenological Study on Leadership Development among Part-time California National Guard Commissioned Officers

A critical challenge for National Guard organizations is that most commissioned officers are part-time. Part-time officers do not have leadership development and mentoring opportunities similar to their full-time peers, thus, limiting access and effectiveness in leadership positions. The aim of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of part-time California National Guard commissioned officers regarding career advancement and leadership development. Data collection took place using semi-structured interviews. The aims were to understand how professional development of part-time military leaders is supported by (a) civilian careers, (b) family, (c) personal and professional values, (d) formal education, (e) role models and mentors, and (f) historical military structure. The conceptual framework was comprised of literature related to military structure, leadership development, and mentoring. The interviews were semi-structured and conducted one-on-one. Using verbatim transcripts, in vivo coding was the primary method for data analysis. The initial coding involved identifying recurring words or phrases which led to emerging themes and subthemes. Repetitive coding led to the forming of categories and patterns that reinforced and added new themes and subthemes. After the initial coding, the use of descriptive coding resulted in five themes: (a) political nature, (b) mentoring, (c) support, (d) gratitude, and (e) mindset. The results included: (a) have realistic expectations, (b) be proactive throughout your career, (c) embrace your responsibility as a leader, (d) mentorship is important regardless of whether formal or informal, and (e) find a mentor early in your career. Most participants suggested that organizations had limitations and challenges. Individuals' primary responsibility was to understand that every system has imperfections. All participants mentioned that individual soldiers have responsibilities to aggressively enhance and progress their careers, lead decisively, and display strength through action. All participants expressed that service is a privilege, and soldiers should approach service with gratitude and enthusiasm. All participants agreed mentorship supports success. The participants' perceptions varied concerning relevant forms, but all agreed on early and continuing mentoring. Most participants suggested seeking mentors regardless of formal program availability. The results inform service members and military organizations concerning part-time officers' career progression and organizational practices, including mentoring. Keywords: National Guard, military, leadership, mentoring, training, reservist, officerEd.D., Educational Leadership and Management -- Drexel University, 202

Experimental Verification of Finite Element Computer Modeling of Distal Radius Locking Bridge Plate for Treatment of Distal Radius Fracture

This study aims to produce experimental data on the mechanical properties and modes of failure of a distal radius locking bridge plate in simulated distal radius fracture (DRF), both independently and screwed to synthetic bone, loaded in a similar loading configuration as reported in patients. These data will be used to validate a finite element analysis (FEA) model of the same fracture fixation construct under similar loading conditions in future studies. Two biomechanical in-vitro experiments were performed using composite radius and fused hand Sawbones to represent patient anatomy. The plate is installed by a registered orthopedic surgeon using a surgical guide provided by the manufacturer. After plate installation, a one-centimeter gap is osteotomized in the metaphysis region and replaced with rubber. A static loading test in a cantilever arrangement was performed on this assembly, as well as on an isolated plate, held in a custom-made jig in which the sample was fixed proximally. The isolated plate showed plastic deformation at 46.5 Newtons, and the assembly deformed at between 65 and 90 Newtons. Plastic deformation is measured using strain and force gages. These tests measure data at one sample per second, and the rate of change of this data can be studied as a correspondence to spring constant. These values can be compared to show consistency and are elucidated below. Confidence in these results is verified by mathematical modeling which approximates the isolated plate as a simply supported beam. In the case of this simplified model, the isolated plate would deform at 27 N. This is a ballpark approximation that shows that measurements are on the right order of magnitude. These data collected give evidence that the experimental setup gives repeatable results in multiple iterations, which are usable for finite element analysis to be conducted in the future.M.S., Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics -- Drexel University, 201

Multidisciplinary Investigation into Neurocognitive Basis of Problem-solving transfer and Implications for Pedagogy: A Mixed-Methods Study

For learners in any academic domain, it is vital to be able to transfer their learning across a variety of educational and non-educational contexts. Despite the significant role of transfer in human learning, enhancing student skills to effectively transfer learning has always been one of the most challenging problems in education. The goals of this convergent parallel mixed methods study were to (a) investigate neurocognitive, behavioral, and task factors involved in transfer of problem solving skills; (b) explore how university faculty conceptualize and enhance transfer across disciplines; and (c) offer practical recommendations for enhancing transfer in higher education. The quantitative strand of this mixed methods study focused on neurocognitive, behavioral, and task factors affecting transfer in a Spatial Navigation Transfer (SNT) game, designed and developed for this study. It used a randomized within-subject repeated-measures experimental design involving 27 graduate students from four disciplinary areas. The fNIRS brain imaging technology was used to measure mental workload in subjects during the SNT game, involving well-structured and ill-structured tasks. The qualitative strand of this mixed methods study used semi-structured interviews with 11 university faculty members from four disciplinary areas to explore their conceptualizations of transfer and the instructional strategies they used to enhance transfer in their classrooms. Based on the findings from the quantitative and qualitative strands, pedagogical practices for enhancing transfer in higher education were discussed and recommendations for future research on transfer were offered.Ph.D., Educational Leadership and Learning Technologies -- Drexel University, 201

Explaining Actual Causation via Reasoning about Actions and Change

The goal of this research is to investigate and demonstrate the suitability of action languages and answer set programming (ASP) to design and realize a novel framework for explaining actual causation. Actual causation is a broad term that encompasses all possible antecedents that have played a meaningful role in producing a consequence. Attempts to characterize reasoning about actual causation have largely pursued counterfactual analysis of a scenario, inspired by the intuition that if X caused Y, then not Y if not X. However, it has been widely documented that the counterfactual criteria alone is problematic and fails to recognize causation in a number of straightforward cases. Departing from a counterfactual reasoning approach, our framework favors reasoning about the underlying causal mechanisms of the scenario itself in order to explain how an outcome of interest came to be. The framework leverages techniques from Reasoning about Actions and Change to support reasoning about domains that change over time in response to a sequence of events. The action language AL enables us to represent a scenario in terms of the evolution of the state of the world over the course of the scenario's events. AL lends itself naturally to an automated translation in Answer Set Programming (ASP), using which, reasoning tasks of considerable complexity can be specified and executed. In this dissertation, we present a theoretical framework for reasoning about actual causation and demonstrate that the framework enables reasoning about traditionally challenging examples of actual cause. We also present a sound and complete implementation of the theoretical framework in ASP, along with a collection of empirical studies that evaluate and analyze the framework's performance on a number of novel and challenging problems.Ph.D., Computer Science -- Drexel University, 201

The Relationship Among Sport Type, Micronutrient Intake and Bone Mineral Density in an Athlete Population

Diet and physical activity are two modifiable factors that can curtail the development of osteoporosis in the aging population. One purpose of this study was to assess the differences in dietary intake and bone mineral density (BMD) in a Masters athlete population (n=87, n=49 female; 41.06 ± 5.00 years of age) and examine sex- and sport-related differences in dietary and total calcium and vitamin K intake and BMD of the total body, lumbar spine, and dual femoral neck (TBBMD, LSBMD and DFBMD, respectively). Total calcium is defined as calcium intake from diet and supplements. Athletes were categorized as participating in an endurance or interval sport. BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Data on dietary intake was collected from Block 2005 Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQs). Dietary calcium, total calcium, or vitamin K intake did not differ between the female endurance and interval athletes. All three BMD sites were significantly different among the female endurance and interval athletes, with female interval athletes having higher BMD at each site (TBBMD: 1.26 ± 0.10 g/cm2, p<0.05; LSBMD: 1.37 ± 0.14 g/cm2, p<0.01; DFBMD: 1.11 ± 0.12 g/cm2, p<0.05, for female interval athletes; TBBMD: 1.19 ± 0.09 g/cm2; LSBMD: 1.23 ± 0.16 g/cm2; DFBMD: 1.04 ± 0.10 g/cm2, for female endurance athletes). Male interval athletes had higher BMD at all three sites (TBBMD 1.44 ± 0.11 g/cm2, p<0.05; LSBMD 1.42 ± 0.15 g/cm2, p=0.179; DFBMD 1.26 ± 0.14 g/cm2, p<0.01, for male interval athletes; TBBMD 1.33 ± 0.11 g/cm2; LSBMD 1.33 ± 0.17 g/cm2; DFBMD 1.10 ± 0.12 g/cm2 for male endurance athletes). Dietary calcium, total daily calcium and vitamin K intake did not differ between the male endurance and interval athletes. This study evaluated the relationship between calcium intake and BMD. No relationship between dietary or total calcium intake and BMD was evident in all female athletes, female endurance athletes or female interval athletes. In all male athletes, there was no significant correlation between dietary or total calcium intake and BMD at any of the measured sites. However, the male interval athlete group had a negative relationship between dietary calcium intake and TBBMD (r=-0.738, p<0.05) and LSBMD (r=-0.738, p<0.05). The negative relationship persisted between total calcium intake and LSBMD (r=-0.714, p<0.05), but not TBBMD, when calcium from supplements was included. The third purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between vitamin K intake (as phylloquinone) and BMD. In all female athletes, there was no significant correlation between vitamin K intake and BMD at any of the measured sites. No relationship between vitamin K and BMD was evident in female interval or female endurance athletes. Similarly, there was no relationship between vitamin K intake and BMD in the male endurance and interval groups. The final purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the Calcium-to-Vitamin K (Ca:K) ratio and BMD. A linear regression model established that the ratio predicted TBBMD in female athletes, F(1,47) = 4.652, p <0.05, and the ratio accounted for 9% of the variability in TBBMD. The regression equation was: predicted TBBMD in a female athlete = 1.250 - 0.008 x (Ca:K). In conclusion, Masters interval athletes have higher BMD than Masters endurance athletes; however, neither dietary or supplemental calcium nor vitamin K were related to BMD in skeletal sites prone to fracture in older adulthood. We found that a Ca:K ratio could predict TBBMD in female athletes. Further research should consider the calcium-to-vitamin K relationship in conjunction with other modifiable, lifestyle factors associated with bone health in the investigation of methods to minimize the development and effect of osteoporosis in the older athlete population.M.S., Human Nutrition -- Drexel University, 201

Selling and Buying Aspects of Used Products That Are Brand Anthropomorphized

This dissertation establishes the impact of brand anthropomorphism on used product transactions from both buyers’ and sellers’ perspectives. That is, we show that brand anthropomorphism leads sellers to set higher selling prices for used products and buyers to set lower buying prices. We theorize that these outcomes occur because sellers develop stronger emotional connections toward their brands that persist even after they have decided to end (sell) their relationships with the brand, whereas buyers apply a relationship-dissolution stigma (a pervasive stereotype toward people who dissolved their relationships) toward anthropomorphized used products. We further demonstrate important boundary conditions for these core effects. That is, we show that a seller’s favorable attitude toward the past enhances the positive impact of brand anthropomorphism on selling prices of used products, whereas a buyer’s creative mindset attenuates the negative impact of brand anthropomorphism on buying prices of used products. Finally, we provide critical managerial implications of the impact of anthropomorphizing a brand in the refurbished marketplace.Ph.D., Marketing -- Drexel University, 201

Experimental Technique to Investigate Compliance of Fish Fin During Natural Swimming

The compliance of a fish fin and how it contributes to swimming has gained extensive attention in the biology and engineering research and design communities. Many studies have hypothesized that fish can actively control the stiffness of their fin rays and fins during swimming to optimize propulsion, but such active controls have not been confirmed through experiments with live fish during natural swimming. This is partly because there are no experimental devices or methodologies that can facilitate controlled experiments during natural swimming to investigate the compliance of the fish fins. It is proposed, through this research, that the compliance of a fish fin can be investigated by applying an external perturbation, like a vortex ring, to the fin while it is being used in locomotion and by measuring the displacement of the fin from its natural swimming motion. To that end, the goal of this thesis was to develop and validate a perturbation device (vortex generator) and a technique to investigate compliance of fins during natural swimming. Experiments were conducted to understand how the vortex formation, size and speed could be altered by tuning the design features on the vortex generator. The evaluation of the vortex generator, the development of the experimental protocol, and the investigation of compliance changes in a fish fin at different swimming speeds were done by conducting experiments with live bluegill sunfish at different steady-swimming speeds and with flexible foils of known flexural rigidities. The evaluation of the technique was conducted by building an engineered system with tunable compliance and estimating the compliance using the perturbation technique proposed herein. The results from the experiments showed that (a) the vortex generator was able to produce an adequate range of vortex rings that could be used to perturb the fins during natural swimming, (b) the fish at slower swimming speed responded similarly to a compliant foil, while the fish at higher swimming speeds responded similarly to a stiffer foil, suggesting a stiffer fin at higher swimming speeds, (c) we can successfully predict changes in the compliance of a system by comparing the maximum deflection and rate of deflection from the unperturbed state to the maximum deflection of a system. Perturbation of fins is a key technique to uncover not only compliance but also behavioral responses that cannot be understood through the study of normal locomotion alone. The outcomes of this research will continue to advance the understanding of fish swimming as fish continue to be one of the greatest inspirations for advanced underwater vehicles.Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics -- Drexel University, 201

A guide to the use of modal techniques in improvisational music therapy

This manual describes methods by which music therapists may incorporate modal techniques of improvisation into clinical work. Modal music is based upon structured sets of notes, known as modes, often identical to scales. Modal harmony differs from the harmonic system commonly used in the Euro-American musical canon, known as functional harmony, which uses chord progressions to develop the music. Modal harmony, on the other hand, is focused on melodic development posed in relation to a stable tonal center. These together imply a figure and ground relationship, a significant factor in the therapeutic process. Furthermore, a modal ground can act as a portal opening up to a wider arena of self-discovery and musical discovery. Modal features are common to a wide diversity of music traditions from around the world, and some of these are reviewed. Multicultural fluency and humility are emphasized as an important motivation to learn modal techniques. Improvising in this way may also be less daunting to a novice and may inspire greater creative expression. Flow and extended consciousness, represented by ideas of "modal ecstasy", are psychological states often associated with modal music that can a vital part of the therapeutic process. In light of such benefits, the reader is provided a guide to engage in modal improvisation, through familiarity with modes and their functions, the figure and ground dynamic, improvisational structure, and clinical vignettes describing practical uses.M.A., Music Therapy and Counseling -- Drexel University, 201

Exploring Graduate Students' Perceptions of Using Social Media in Education Coursework

This study examined social media in graduate coursework and provides insight into how faculty and higher education administrators can strategically incorporate social media into graduate school coursework. Moreover, this study bridges an existing literature gap regarding graduate students' perceptions of social media use and its impact on their learning. Several research studies have linked the use of social media with improved academic performance; however, the role of social media as a pedagogical tool to support learning through academic engagement and collaboration in graduate education coursework needs further exploration. Millennials and post-millennials (ages 18-42) quickly embrace and adopt new technology, and most are either in graduate school or will be in the future. Higher education can use such tools, including social media, to connect more academically with their students, who are frequently on these platforms. Conducted over a one-month period, this cross-sectional study empirically examined the perceptions, attitudes, and experiences that graduate students hold about the pedagogical use of social media to support learning, academic engagement, and academic performance. An online quantitative survey collected data on 1,212 students enrolled in graduate courses in one university's School of Education. The survey results confirmed that social media was a useful pedagogical tool in graduate coursework to support academic performance and collaboration among students. While results partially supported that using social media in graduate coursework improved collaboration among students, it did not fully support improved collaboration between students and their professors. This study included a single discipline at a single institution; future research would benefit from a more robust study that included multiple disciplines or multiple institutions. Keywords: graduate education coursework; social media; pedagogical tool; academic performance; learningEd.D., Educational Leadership and Management -- Drexel University, 201

Revisiting Play: Assisting Primary English Learners

The U. S. K-12 system today has been confronted with the challenge of educating its ever-increasing population of English Learners (ELs) on academic content while teaching a new language. While the challenge has always been to have all students reading at grade-level by the third grade, today, this challenge has been complicated by the large population of ELs needing to first acquire their second language (L2), in this case, the English language. While current research varies regarding the time required, it is evident that significant time would be necessary to do so. This research explored the impact of an early intervention program in a supportive environment, with opportunities for learning through play as well as the acknowledgement of and consideration for sociocultural influences that affect learning. The main research questions that were investigated were: 1) How does the environment of "play" influence behaviors, academic language and learning?, 2) What are the parents' and teachers' perceptions about child-centered instructional approaches and how they influence academic achievement for English Learners (ELs) in the primary grades?, and 3) What are the parents' and teachers' perspectives of the factors (parents, community, and school factors) affecting student learning in the environment of play? With an instrumental, single-case, case study design, the study used program documents, teacher and parent interviews, and focus groups to provide an intensive description of the bounded social phenomena found among students of a kindergarten program, and later, an analysis of the same.Ed.D., Educational Leadership and Management -- Drexel University, 201