16484 research outputs found
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Left-Past and Right-Future Representation: The Effect of Product Facing Direction
No full textProduct image display in marketing communications plays an important role in consumer perception and behavior. In this dissertation, I explore one significant aspect of product image display, namely, the facing direction of product images. Building on the literature of visuospatial attention and spatial representation of time, this research shows that products whose images are facing toward the left (vs. right) are evaluated more favorably when consumers focus on the past, whereas the reverse holds true when consumers focus on the future. Furthermore, this research compares product facing direction with a prior established spatial cue of time, namely, product horizontal position. This research shows that when the horizontal position of product images is matched with consumers' temporal focus (i.e., left-past, right-future), products facing toward a congruent (vs. incongruent) direction with the position will receive more favorable evaluations. Further, this research shows that the effect of facing direction is stronger than the horizontal position effect. That is, product images facing toward a congruent direction (and positioned incongruently) with consumers' temporal focus result in higher product evaluations than those positioned congruently (and facing toward an incongruent direction) with consumers' temporal focus. Finally, this research demonstrates an important moderating role of product features (i.e., desirability and feasibility) in the effect of facing direction on product evaluations. That is, for products higher on feasibility features, a match (vs. mismatch) between facing direction and consumers' temporal focus leads to higher product evaluations, whereas the reverse holds true for products higher on desirability features. Important theoretical and managerial implications of this research are discussed.Ph.D., Marketing -- Drexel University, 201
Using the Edmonton Frail Scale to Trigger Palliative Care Referral for Hospitalized Patients with Heart Failure
No full textObjective: To determine whether use of the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) by the clinical staff on the medical cardiology unit would increase referrals to palliative care for hospitalized patients with heart failure. Design: Quality improvement project based on the Plan, Do, Check, Act framework. Setting/Local Problem: At a 45-bed cardiology unit at an urban academic medical center, frail hospitalized patients with heart failure were not consistently referred to palliative care. Patients: Patients (N=18) admitted with diagnoses of heart failure from July 16, 2016 through July 30, 2018. Intervention/Measurements: Medical cardiology staff were instructed on the on the new process and how to use the EFS. After training, patients with EFS scores greater than or equal to 10 were referred to palliative care. Results: Eighteen patients were admitted with heart failure: 22% (n=4) were referred to palliative care. Of these four, 75% (n=3) were referred because of EFS screening results. One attending physician declined to participate in this project. Overall, palliative care referrals increased from 9% (n=1) before the process change to 17% (n=3) during the two-week pilot. Conclusion: Frailty screening is an objective method with which to identify patients who may benefit from palliative care. Results from this two-week pilot demonstrate process improvement. However, long term sustainability remains questionable. The quality improvement team has committed to continue the pilot for three months. Keywords: palliative care, palliative care referral, heart failure, frailty, goals of care, patient preferences.D.N.P., Nursing Practice -- Drexel University, 201
Development and Analysis of Active-Learning Techniques in Entry-level Chemistry Laboratory and Classroom
No full textChemistry is one of the fundamental science courses which explains the properties and interactions of substances. Many students struggle with understanding chemical concepts due in part to the misconnection between the three levels of chemical representations and the large cognitive load required to process the information. Educators developed active learning based on the theory that students build their understanding on their own to help them learn chemistry. It has been shown that active learning can help the students to improve their processing skills and their performance in STEM courses. This dissertation focuses on the implementation and analysis of active-learning strategies in entry-level ungraduate chemistry laboratories and classrooms. The first research topic in this dissertation is to determine whether attending general chemistry labs and completing lab reports help the students to answer exam questions that correspond to the lab content. Overall, the data collected from different lab topics indicate mixed results. Students performed better on lab-related questions for some topics, such as kinetics and electrochemistry. The results show that biological science students and female students tend to get more benefit from the graphing component of the kinetics experiment than engineering majors and male students. The results also show that biological science students and female students tend to perform better on conceptual questions related to acid-base titrations, and electrochemistry. Two LEGO-based hands-on activities were developed for use in the classroom to help students understand chemical kinetics and equilibrium concepts. The kinetics activity simulates a pseudo-first order reaction by using different numbers of colored bricks. The equilibrium activity models the relationship between the rates of the forward and reverse reactions and equilibrium amounts by using different combinations of assemblers and disassemblers. Also, the equilibrium activity illustrates Le Chatelier's principle by changing the number of reactant bricks or product bricks after equilibrium has been reached and letting the reaction shift back towards equilibrium. Overall, it was found that student understanding was improved on topics that were directly related to the LEGO activities. Muddiest point cards are index cards that were used as a technique to collect student reflections in an entry-level chemistry class. At the end of each lecture, students were asked to write down something they were not clear about, or something they had learned, if they did not have a question. The student reponses on the muddiest point cards were categorized into two types: questions that were related to the lecture content and something that was learned. The association between the student response type and their performance was studied. Students with higher in-class performance tended to ask more questions that were related to the lecture content, while students with lower in-class performance tended to write down something they had learned in the class. Students who did not give a response frequently tended to have a lower in-class performance and a lower course performance. Gender difference on the preference of response type was also studied, but no consistent result was found.Ph.D., Chemistry -- Drexel University, 201
A Tale of Two Caesars: Theaters, Controversy, and Conversation
No full textThis thesis explores how theaters respond to public controversy related to programming. Arts-related controversies are often the first public eruption of deeper community struggles; with the contemporary political climate, I believe that these controversies will become more common. This study suggests that theaters are more than capable of weathering a public controversy, as long as they anticipate and prepare for backlash. The study also suggests that theaters make careful, deliberate choices about the season following a controversy, as well as diversifying staff and leadership to avoid unintentional missteps. This thesis also grapples with the difficulties of meaningful conversation in the digital sphere, the limits of deliberation, and the role of the arts in a politically charged landscape.M.S., Arts Administration -- Drexel University, 201
Algebra on Demand
No full textSchool districts nationwide have yet to agree upon a standardized method for student achievement in algebra at the middle school level. This comparative case study, with a phenomenological approach, was designed to evaluate the implementation of a middle school algebra preparedness program, referred to as Algebra on Demand, in a Southeastern Pennsylvania (PA) School District. This program provided middle school students, grades 6-8, the opportunity to study algebra when they were deemed "ready" at the earliest grade level in their middle school education. Specifically, the study examined the perceptions of middle school mathematics teachers about how students are identified and selected to participate in the Algebra on Demand program, how middle school algebra teachers worked with students of varying abilities once they became part of the program, and to what extent the program prepared middle school Algebra 1 students to achieve proficiency on the PA Keystone Algebra 1 Exam. Through the frameworks of the Zone of Proximal Development (Vygotsky, 1978) and Change Theory (Heifetz, Grashow, & Linsky, 2009; Senge, Smith, Kruschwitz, Laur, & Schley, 2010; Kotter, 2012), the development and delivery of the program were explored. Key components of this study were to investigate how students were selected for the Algebra on Demand program, how student progress was monitored throughout participation, and what constituted successful completion of the program. Utilizing both qualitative and archival data collection processes for this study allowed these issues to be assessed from a variety of stakeholder viewpoints. These methods allowed the researcher to evaluate if the Algebra on Demand program model was a viable option for improving student achievement in algebra at the middle school level.Ed.D., Educational Leadership and Management -- Drexel University, 201
Critical Theory, Conflict Transformation and Community Music Therapy: A Critical Review of the Literature
No full textThe following capstone literature review explores music therapy (and allied creative arts therapies) and their impact within the realm of conflict zones and conflict transformation. It defines the traditional approaches music therapy has taken with conflict survivors as well as makes a case for a movement towards community music therapy frameworks rather than consensus model individual therapy models. Delving into the history of critical theory and the impact of critical psychology and liberation psychology, the literature review advocates for incorporation of critical theory into more music therapy education programs. This is identified as a means to facilitate more culturally reflexive anti-oppressive practices by Western music therapists working with non-Western clients.M.A., Music Therapy and Counseling -- Drexel University, 201
Powerline Communication for the Smart Grid and Internet of Things: Powerline Narrowband Frequency Channel Characterization Based on the TMS320C2000 C28x Digital Signal Processor
No full textThe Smart Grid (SG) is rapidly evolving to a network with billions of sensors generating huge amount of data, thus becoming an integral part of the emerging Internet of Things (IoT). This explosion of devices on the SG will require further research and development initiatives on network reliability, effective machine to machine communication, reactive and scalable architecture for enhanced infrastructure dependability and for improved utilization of existing spectrum. For the Smart Grid and IoT, a pervasive and reliable communication network is required. Powerline communication (PLC) is a very convenient, inexpensive, last mile solution in this regard since it is a ubiquitous infrastructure that is already existing, thus there will not be a need to lay new cables and infrastructures if the powerline is used as a means of communication. However, the powerline is a very hostile channel to communication. Various types of noise, coupled with real-time varying nonlinear loads and frequency selectivity problem makes it a quite challenging channel for communication. In addition, it has been projected that tens of billions of IoT devices will be in use around the world in the next decade and many of these devices will occupy the low voltage powerline channel between the customer indoor environment and the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meter outside the building. Hence, this short PLC channel will even be a more challenging communication environment. The focus of this thesis is hardware-based channel characterization of the indoor powerline channel that will be an integral part of the future IoT last mile communication channel. Several nonlinear electrical loads are used to populate the indoor powerline channel of a University building selected for this study. Channel characterization is based on the low-cost TMS320C2000 C28x Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The C28x, is a real-time DSP that is existing in several billions IoT machines worldwide and it is a core DSP in many healthcare devices, in aircrafts, in power system DC motors, in vehicles, in communication and control equipment, etc. Hence, its use is significant in this thesis since solutions developed using the C28x will be useful across several IoT strata. In the next decade, many IoT computation and analytics tasks will be shifted to the edges of IoT networks due to communication spectral shortages resulting from massive data that will be generated due to numerous devices on IoT networks. This new paradigm, called edge computing will require new methods by which existing and newer algorithms will be computed since memory and computing power are scarce resources at edges of IoT networks. Hence, in this thesis, the C28x, in addition to its use for powerline channel characterization, is also programmed, using advanced signal processing methods and open-source programming language, to generate several useful waveforms. This is in a bid to make the C28x, which is existing in several billion IoT machines worldwide to be more useful for SG and IoT edge computing applications. The C28x is made more useful and scalable in this thesis by deploying it as a Function Generator, an Arbitrary Waveforms Generator and a Mother Wavelet Generator. These generators are quite expensive equipment, thus the deployment of C28x DSP as a waveform generator is an important contribution to SG, IoT and Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) edge computing applications, especially for applications requiring low-cost and real time implementations. In addition to baseband waveforms such as ramps and sawtooth signals, several mother wavelets and several arbitrary waveforms are generated. Generated waveforms are then deployed to implement modulation schemes for C28x DSP and to construct linear FIR filters that can be used to reduce signal and data distortion due to channel disturbances when powerline communication is uses an integral part of IoT networks. Other waveforms generated using the C28x DSP include waveforms useful for statistical machine learning, data analytics, artificial intelligence and data science applications in IoT, SG and CPS including Gaussian Mixture Models (GMMs). In all cases of waveform construction for the C28x DSP, it is pointed out that our contribution in this thesis, to the best knowledge of the Author, is the first known application of the C28x DSP for constructing such waveforms.Ph.D., Electrical Engineering -- Drexel University, 201
The Effects of a Multi-Component, School-Based Intervention on the Health and Behaviors of Children
No full textProblem: Childhood obesity affects nearly 17% of children in the United States, and children living with obesity have a 40% chance of developing more than one risk factor for cardiovascular disease as adults. Interventions addressing childhood obesity are best effective in the school environment, primarily due to the immense time children spend in school. Multi-component interventions that focus on several aspects of obesity interventions, including nutrition and physical activity, have shown to be more successful in influencing the behaviors and health outcomes of children. Although key components of effective school-based interventions have been identified, the frequency, type and duration of interventions provided have been inconsistent and have led to equivocal results, limiting the reproducibility and future application of effective obesity prevention interventions. Additionally, little information is known about the comparative effectiveness of school-based interventions across different School Types, such as Public, Charter and Parochial/Religious schools. The purpose of this study was to identify how a multi-component school-based obesity intervention affected the health outcomes and behaviors of children. Methods: Students were recruited from schools of the Greater Philadelphia area for a three-year study. Thirteen schools were provided nutrition, physical activity, and wellness interventions implemented by community partners. Schools were designated as Core, Level 1, or Control Schools. Core Schools received weekly interventions; Level 1 Schools received monthly interventions; and Control Schools received no interventions. Anthropometric and health behavior assessments were collected in the Fall and Spring of each year. Food preference assessments were collected throughout the study intervention. Linear mixed modeling was used to assess the influence of Level of Intervention, Sex, School, and School Type on the anthropometric outcomes of the students. Chi-square tests of independence were utilized to assess the influence of the Level of Intervention on the students' likelihood of meeting national fruit, vegetable, and physical activity recommendations. Chi-square tests of independence were also used to assess the influence of the Level of Intervention on the students' exposure to, preference for, and willingness to try new fruits and vegetables again. Results: Six linear mixed models were built to describe the influence of the Level of Intervention, Sex, School, and School Type on either Body mass index (BMI) z-score or waist circumference. Level of Intervention was significant (p=0.037) in predicting BMI z-score in all students. School Type was a significant predictor of BMI z-score in students who were overweight and/or obese (p=0.039). School Type was also a significant predictor of waist circumference in all students (p=0.001), students at low-risk for cardio-metabolic disease (<90th percentile) (p=0.011), and students at high-risk for cardio-metabolic disease (90th percentile) (p=0.041). For the health behaviors, significant (p<0.004) chi-square tests were reported in the Fall of Years 2 and 3 for having met the physical activity recommendations. Descriptive statistics indicated that higher proportions of students in the Core and Level 1 Schools reported meeting fruit, vegetable, and physical activity recommendations compared to students of the Control Schools. Finally, to assess the food preferences of children, students in Core Schools were 3.7 times more likely to have been exposed to a new fruit and vegetable (p<0.001) presented during in-class lessons, compared to students in Level 1 Schools during the Winter of Year 3. No other significant differences were found. However, there was an increase in the proportion of students who had exposure to, preference for, and willingness to try new foods throughout the final year of intervention. Conclusions: This is the first study to identify School Type as a significant predictor of anthropometric outcomes for students enrolled in a school-based intervention. Further, this multi-component school-based intervention may have been effective in changing the health behaviors and food preferences of children. Further research should focus on the different environmental factors across School Types and how they influence the health outcomes of children.Ph.D., Nutrition Sciences -- Drexel University, 201
Creativity Mindset: An Exploration of K-16 Edutor Leaders' and Business Leaders' Understanding and Application of Creativity to Their Professions
No full textThe study is an exploration of how Education Leaders and Business Leaders view creativity, how learning about creativity changed their awareness and perception of their own creativity, and how their changed awareness and perception of their creativity have the capacity to influence the development of creativity in their schools, classrooms and/or workplace. It is a nested case study conducted on artifacts of the participants of five sections of an online, graduate-level course on the foundations of creativity including the analysis of the participants' results on a creativity self-assessment, course exam, course discussion board posts, and the course’s capstone, creative product. The study results indicate that the Educators and the Business students enrolled hold similar perceptions of creativity and their creative strengths and weaknesses. However, emergent themes in the analyses of their Discussion Board posts demonstrated marked differences in how to the application and purpose of creativity. Specifically, the Educators focused more on intrinsic motivators that emphasized human qualities, while the Business group focused more on extrinsic motivators such as bottom line products and promotion.Ph.D., Education -- Drexel University, 201
Improving Properties of Tin Sulfide Quantum Dots for Bioimaging Applications Through Zinc Sulfide Coating
No full textInterest in quantum dots has continued to grow due to their unique properties especially in biomedical applications. Compared to common fluorescent dyes used for bioimaging applications, quantum dots have better quantum yield, while displaying longer photostability. Additionally, some quantum dots emit near infrared wavelengths, which make them suitable for tissue imaging. However, most of the commercially available quantum dots contain heavy metals that can create toxic levels of heavy metals when the quantum dots begin to deteriorate. In this research, a solution coating approach using zinc sulfide (ZnS) to improve the properties of a non-toxic tin sulfide (SnS) core quantum dot that has a near infrared emission wavelength for bioimaging applications is presented. This type of core/shell structure has been shown to passivate the surface, while maintaining the optical properties of the core quantum dot. It was found that the coating approach improved the photoluminescence of the SnS core by 20x without changing the near infrared emission wavelength. Multiple characterization methods were performed to gain understanding of the coating process and the resulting properties. XPS and EDS showed that small amounts of ZnS was indeed present on the surface of SnS particles, while TEM showed that the ZnS coating caused some clustering of SnS particles leading to a redshift in the UV/Vis absorption spectra and the sharpening of XRD peaks. Furthermore, it was shown that the suspension stability of the SnS/ZnS quantum dots can be enhanced through the use of 3-Mercaptopropionic acid as an additional capping molecule.M.S., Materials Science and Engineering -- Drexel University, 201