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Emotions as informative signals : a qualitative multiple case study exploring female employee perceptions of supervisor incivility within STEM professional roles.
No full textSupervisor incivility is a pervasive issue within organizations. The lack of research on how female science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) employees experience supervisor incivility within male-dominant cultures creates a challenge in understanding how to support this underrepresented population. Consequences for employees experiencing supervisor incivility in the workplace may include changes to workplace behaviors. Supervisor incivility experienced by women in STEM professions leads to a negative affect response among women STEM professionals resulting in long-term behavioral consequences.
This qualitative multiple case study was conducted with six participants. I utilized three data sources, including an open-response questionnaire, a semi-structured interview, and a follow-up questionnaire. The study was guided by the Emotions as Social Information (EASI) model (van Kleef, 2009). The focus of this study was to explore the shared phenomenon of female STEM employees’ perceptions of supervisor incivility-related emotional expression and changes to workplace behavior. Study findings revealed three themes. First, female STEM employees described witnessing or experiencing an adverse demeanor or negative emotional messaging from their supervisor which they interpreted as supervisor discontent or frustration. Second, female STEM employees described feeling a state of distress, apprehension, or vulnerability when they witnessed or experienced their supervisor’s uncivil emotional expression in the workplace. Lastly, female STEM employees described behavioral withdrawal, speaking up, or masking stemming from their supervisor’s negative emotional expression.
There were three implications to study findings. First, this study provides a resource for human resource business partners to leverage when evaluating supervisor performance, feedback, and organizational policies against supervisor incivility. Second, this study could be utilized by learning and development decision makers upon building curriculum which targets emotional competencies. Lastly, this study could provide support for STEM professional associations for women in advocating for additional awareness and research funding
Design and synthesis of indole-based analogues of OXi8006 as inhibitors of tubulin polymerization and their incorporation as payloads in drug-linker constructs.
No full textOXi8006, originally designed and synthesized by the Pinney Research Group at Baylor University, exhibited potent inhibition of tubulin polymerization and strong cytotoxicity against human various cancer cell lines. In previous studies, OXi8007, the phosphate prodrug of OXi8006, demonstrated vascular disrupting activity within 2 hours of administration by targeting tumor vasculature. OXi8006 binds to the colchicine site on α,β-tubulin heterodimers, inducing a conformation shift from a straight to a curved structure. This conformational change inhibits tubulin polymerization, leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.
To gain a deeper understanding of the interaction of OXi8006 with the colchicine site, a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study was conducted by replacing the carbonyl moiety with various one-atom and two-atom bridging functionalities. Among the analogues synthesized, compounds bearing a sulfide bridge (KGP555) and a methylene bridge (KGP608) demonstrated potent biological activity, including a strong inhibition of tubulin polymerization, a high affinity for the colchicine site, and significant cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines such as MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and PANC-1.
Encouraged by these results, phosphate prodrugs of KGP555 and KGP608 were synthesized to enhance water solubility. However, these prodrugs proved unsuccessful in achieving the desired solubility improvements. To overcome this limitation, an aniline-based congener, KGP681, was developed to broaden prodrug options, including ւ-serinamide and glycinamide derivatives.
These analogues were incorporated as payloads in drug-linker constructs featuring a valine-citrulline (Val-Cit) dipeptide linker for potential use in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The goal is to facilitate selective payload delivery to the tumor microenvironment, where the linker will undergo cleavage by cathepsin B, an enzyme overexpressed in many tumors, thus releasing the payload site-specific to the tumor. As a preliminary assessment of efficacy, KGP619, a drug linker construct incorporating the phenolic payload KGP555 and N,N’-dimethylethylenediamine (DMED) as a spacer, exhibited a 27% payload release upon exposure to cathepsin B. In another example, the drug-linker construct KGP682, when treated with cathepsin B, released its payload, KGP681, with more efficiency (52%).
Inspired by this enhancement, further modifications to KGP682 were investigated, which included the optimization of an attachment group, a dipeptide linker, a self-immolative spacer, and the payload
Timing, learning/study strategies, and self-efficacy : factors impacting reading comprehension for postsecondary students with dyslexia.
No full textReading comprehension is an essential skill for academic success at the postsecondary level. However, many students with dyslexia encounter significant challenges in the reading-intensive environment of higher education. Understanding the key factors that relate to reading comprehension can help support these students’ academic achievements. This dissertation investigates the factors relating to postsecondary students with dyslexia, including the timing of their dyslexia diagnosis, the use of effective learning/study strategies, and levels of self-efficacy. To date, no prior research has comprehensively evaluated all three factors within a single study. Based on existing literature, it is hypothesized that an early dyslexia diagnosis, coupled with timely intervention, will positively relate to reading comprehension scores. Furthermore, the implementation of effective learning/study strategies, along with enhanced self-efficacy, is expected to improve reading comprehension outcomes for these students. The significant factors identified in this study included effective learning/study strategies, particularly those related to achieving higher scores in identifying the main idea, reduced anxiety, and increased motivation, as well as the number of years of intervention received. Interestingly, the findings of this quasi-experimental design suggested that whether a student was diagnosed early or late with dyslexia did not significantly correlate with their reading comprehension abilities. The clinical implications of this study emphasize the importance of implementing interventions that support students with dyslexia in identifying the main idea in texts. Furthermore, strategies should be aimed at reducing anxiety and enhancing motivation. Providing access to a licensed counselor may effectively assist in managing anxiety, while a mentorship program could foster increased motivation to attain academic and personal goals
Exploring the experiences and postsecondary plans of participants in a rural Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) program : a qualitative single-case study.
No full textRural communities have long faced challenges in retaining young talent, fostering economic growth, and providing equitable access to postsecondary opportunities. Geographic isolation, limited educational resources, and economic disparities have contributed to a pattern of out-migration among rural youth, often leaving communities with a shrinking workforce and fewer emerging leaders. However, growing interest in place-based education, entrepreneurship, and community engagement has created new opportunities to reimagine how students from rural communities prepare for life after high school. The Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) program—a yearlong, experiential entrepreneurship course offered to high school students in rural Illinois—embodies this shift. This study examined how CEO participants perceived postsecondary opportunities and how those perceptions shaped their aspirations.
This qualitative single-case study explored the experiences of eight CEO program participants from eight rural high schools in west central Illinois. Data collection included semi-structured interviews and focus groups to better understand how participants made sense of their educational experiences and future goals. The study was grounded in the concept of place identity (Bernsen et al., 2022) and explored how participants’ perceptions of community, belonging, and local opportunity helped shape their postsecondary decisions. I developed three key findings from the study. First, participants’ desire to stay in their rural communities was guided by a strong sense of community attachment. Second, participants recognized the limitations of their rural schools and emphasized the importance of extracurricular opportunities in enhancing their educational experiences. Third, participants acknowledged the role of family and the support of community in their postsecondary choices.
Findings from this study have implications for school administrators, community leaders, and emerging entrepreneurs. The study emphasized the importance of promoting community attachment, integrating entrepreneurial education, and expanding access to mentorship and experiential learning. The findings also suggested that when students are connected to their communities and see local pathways as viable, they often choose to envision a future rooted in their rural hometowns. Ultimately, this study contributes to the growing conversation about rural education and workforce development by offering insights into how community-based programs can help students build both aspiration and attachment
A qualitative single case study exploring student persistence and family re-enrollment decisions at an independent day and boarding school in the Southeastern United States.
No full textBoarding student retention continues to be a major concern for independent day and boarding schools in the United States. Boarding student retention is negatively impacted by the low enrollment of students in United States boarding schools and concerns about the decreasing size of the larger independent school market (National Association of Independent Schools, 2021). Boarding school administrators must find ways to mitigate this problem by maximizing student retention efforts so that their schools remain in operation. Further, school closure negatively impacts a wide range of decision makers, including parents, teachers, and the larger communities the schools serve. The purpose of this qualitative single-case study was to explore student persistence and family re-enrollment decisions at a Southeastern U.S. independent day and boarding school.
Tinto’s (1998) theory of student persistence provided the theoretical framework used to execute the study. More specifically, I focused on the four categorical themes from Tinto’s framework (1998) (formal academic influences, formal social influences, informal academic influences, and informal social influences) and how these themes contributed to participants’ re-enrollment decisions at an independent day and boarding school in the Southeastern United States.
The findings of this study indicate that families' student integration experiences contributed to their decisions to re-enroll at an independent day and boarding school located in the Southeastern United States. In fact, the majority of student participants revealed that formal social influences (e.g., sports) contributed to their re-enrollment decisions. The parent participants disclosed that revealed that formal academic influences (e.g., school’s academic program) contributed to their decisions to re-enroll their children in the school. This research study highlights the individual nature of the re-enrollment process for both students and their parents. Additional research findings indicated that some participants changed the degree of importance they attributed to academic and social influences that contributed to their respective re-enrollment decisions after one academic year. This finding provides evidence of the fluid nature of re-enrollment decisions for both students and their parents
Single case study exploring the integrative model of person-organizational fit and retention among long-tenured H-E-B employees.
No full textHigh turnover in the grocery retail industry presents a significant challenge to organizational sustainability, profitability, and community well-being. The financial burden of recruiting, training, and replacing employees undermines operational efficiency and long-term workforce development. Turnover disrupts service quality, customer satisfaction, and team morale, weakening organizational culture. With the retail trade turnover rate surpassing the national average, companies face a cycle of costly attrition and limited return on training investments. These challenges extend beyond the organization, as store closures due to high operational costs disproportionately impact underserved communities, increasing socioeconomic inequalities and reducing access to essential goods.
The purpose of this single case study was to explore long-tenured H-E-B employees’ perceptions of the elements of the integrative model of person-organizational fit have contributed to their retention. The model’s elements include values, personality, and work environment congruence, and attitude, which include job satisfaction and organizational commitment. The data collection included a questionnaire, a semi-structured interview, and a structured open-ended statement exercise that yielded rich, thick participant data. Studying H-E-B’s environment can identify practices contributing to a positive work environment and high retention rates. The following research question guided my study. How do H-E-B employees with over 30 years of tenure perceive values congruence, personality congruence, and work environment congruence influence their attitudes and intent to stay with the organization?
The findings of my study have implications for H-E-B leaders, such as executives, human resources professionals, and operations leaders, aiming to reduce turnover. By revealing how values congruence, personality fit, work environment alignment, and job satisfaction contribute to long-term organizational commitment, my study offers a framework for workforce retention rooted in the integrative model of person-organization fit. The results support adopting values-driven hiring practices, leadership development, and compensation models that enhance employee engagement and reduce attrition. This research provides strategies for practitioners to align HR and practices with employee-centered values, fostering organizational stability, customer satisfaction, and profitability. For scholars, the study extends the application of person-organization fit theory to frontline service roles. It lays a foundation for future inquiry into leadership, culture, and workforce management in similarly volatile labor markets
Corporate executive career success : a descriptive single case study exploring Black millennials’ experiences with intersectionality and executive development coaching.
No full textThe purpose of this descriptive single case study was to explore the career development experiences of Black millennials in their thirties, aspiring for executive positions in corporate America. This research addressed the challenges these individuals face, focusing on the impact of intersectionality, career development resources, and coaching. Utilizing Crenshaw’s (1989) intersectionality theory (IT) and Lent et al.’s (1994) social cognitive career theory (SCCT), the study aimed to understand how Black millennial aspiring executives (BMAEs), between the ages of 30 and 39, engage in career development experiences working in corporate America organizations (CAOs; Byars-Winston & Rogers, 2019; Cornileus, 2012; McKinsey et al., 2021).
Data collection for this descriptive single case study involved 47 respondents to an online Career Success survey. I selected six BMAEs aged 30–39 from this group for in-depth virtual interviews (Brown & Lent, 2017; Coetzee et al., 2017). The research examined how participants leveraged career development and coaching resources, along with their experiences of adversity and growth in their career journeys.
Key findings revealed that BMAEs proactively sought out the support of career development and coaching opportunities for professional growth, while they reactively sought support when facing identity and workplace challenges (Bell & Nkomo, 2003; Dickens et al., 2019; Erskine et al., 2021; Parks-Yancy, 2006). Participants reported navigating White workspaces by assimilating to cultural expectations while also actively demonstrating resilience. The study concluded that executive development coaching programs tailored to Black professionals can play a pivotal role in fostering career success and enhancing retention by addressing systemic barriers, building leadership skills, and offering culturally attuned support (Bozer et al., 2013; McDonald & Hite, 2005).
Corporate leaders and HR practitioners can use these insights to bolster more consistent support for Black millennial talent. This will help create more inclusive leadership pipelines in corporate spaces. Organizations aiming to improve equity in career advancement should apply these findings when developing executive development programs and coaching initiatives for underrepresented groups (McDonald & Hite, 2005; Roth, 2017)
Lifetime predictions of medium voltage motor coil insulation when operated by PWM from SiC inverters.
No full textAs the push towards higher energy densities and efficiencies for electric machines continues it is imperative that all parts of the motor drive system are adapted to new developments and technologies. Recent developments in the semiconductor field have resulted in new wide bad gap (WBG) semiconductors such as silicon carbide (SiC) that are able to operate at higher voltages, switching frequencies, and efficiencies than traditional devices. These devices present a wonderful opportunity for all power inverters, but especially for medium voltage (MV) applications. However, these new WBG devices present new and increased stress for all parts of the machine lifetime including the winding insulation. To this end, it has already been observed that traditional understandings of insulation lifetime originally developed for Si inverter operation are ill-equipped for the greater stresses provided by WBG inverters especially in consideration of multi-stress models. Therefore, it is necessary to create new models for insulation lifetime and behavior that account for the increased multi-stress nature of operation with WBG devices. This dissertation presents a detailed modeling method developed for the investigation of insulation stress and lifetime prediction for MV form wound motor coils using a combination of finite element analysis (FEA) and SPICE modeling, and an experimental testbed and results for the accelerated aging of MV form wound coils for the validation of the proposed model and investigation of the electrical and thermal stress impact on insulation life. The work presented here is a key contribution in developing accurate lifetime and stress models for stator insulation for the prediction of stator failure which is of great interest to industry due to the high cost of machine downtime
Transhumanism and nature’s guide : exploring enhancement technologies through natural law and ordinary language.
No full textThis dissertation develops a theological-ethical framework for engaging transhumanism, understood as the affirmation of enhancement technologies that aim to alter human nature, through the dual lens of Thomistic natural law and ordinary language philosophy. While many Christian ethicists reject bioenhancements either on principle or because of the risks they pose, this project reframes the central question: if such technologies work as intended and are deployed justly, could they still be wrong? Arguing that Christian ethics must take seriously the situational desires that drive enhancement, this work retrieves the theological category of nature not simply as a boundary marker but as a guide for discernment. Drawing on Aquinas, the natural law is shown to provide a grammar for evaluating flourishing rooted in the teleology of human creatureliness. This vision is deepened through the insights of ordinary language philosophy, especially in the work of Wittgenstein and Cavell, which highlights the ethical weight of our forms of life and the moral significance of the ordinary. In both natural law theology and ordinary language philosophy, there is a clear emphasis on the relevance of nature and what lies before us. Three case studies—psycho-pharmaceuticals used for moral enhancement, brain-computer interfaces used for communication, and whole brain emulation—are analyzed using this combined framework, showing how enhancement technologies can both resonate with and distort our participation in creation. By attending to the theological meaning of nature, this project advances a constructive ethic for living faithfully in a technologically saturated world
The relationship between caffeine consumption, perceived stress, coping style, and burnout among football bowl subdivision university athletic department support staff.
No full textThe purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between perceived stress, caffeine consumption, coping style, and burnout in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) university athletic department support staff. Electronic surveys consisting of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory – Brief (Brief-COPE), and caffeine frequency questionnaire were completed by 314 athletic department support staff members at two timepoints (i.e., August, March). ANOVAs were utilized to examine differences in PSS, CBI and Brief-COPE scores based on caffeine source and frequency. Linear mixed-effects regression analyses were performed to examine the impact of the previously mentioned variables, as well as demographic and job factors, on three subscales of burnout [i.e., personal burnout (PB), work-related burnout (WR), client-related burnout (CR)]. Brewed coffee and soda were the most frequently consumed sources of caffeine. Perceived stress, coping style, and all three burnout subscales differed by caffeine source and frequency. Excluding problem-focused coping (PFC), all other variables [i.e., perceived stress, emotion-focused coping (EFC), avoidant coping, PB, WR, CR] were greater with more frequent caffeine use, although the specific source varied by variable. PFC, often considered positive coping, differed from the other variables, with non-espresso consumers reporting greater PFC than low espresso consumers. Regression analysis revealed that PSS and EFC were significant contributors to all three burnout subscales (i.e., PB, WR, CR). Additionally, sex and average weekly hours worked also contributed to PB, and CR was significantly impacted by salary. This study was the first of its kind to examine the stress, coping, and burnout among all athletic department support staff members, as well as to examine the impact of multiple sources of caffeine on burnout. Moderate perceived stress, personal burnout, and work-related burnout levels indicate that this is a population of concern for stress and burnout-related consequences. This study identified various contributing factors to support staff burnout. Athletic department support staff members and administrators can utilize this information to develop and implement strategies to reduce stress and encourage the use of positive coping strategies in an effort to reduce burnout