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An Exploration of Department of Juvenile Justice Personnel Experiences with Youth in the School-to-Prison Pipeline
No full textThe school-to-prison pipeline is a pervasive national issue in which youth are exiting educational settings and entering juvenile justice settings. Yet, while this is a prevalent issue, there are avenues of study and approaches to addressing this issue that have yet to be researched. The following study explored one such avenue: the experiences of adults working with youth in the pipeline. Three streams of literature informed this research: the student population in the pipeline, policies and practices directed toward those in the pipeline, and the use of non-punitive practices to address the pipeline. A small sample of nine adults, out of a total of 86 employed in a variety of positions within a local division of a New York state agency, participated in semi-structured interviews to provide the research data. The findings showed that, while the participants have varying roles, they shared similar experiences and perceptions regarding the understanding of and interacting with youth in the pipeline, the relationship between education and the pipeline, and addressing the needs of youth. Each of the results that emerged from the findings aligned with the findings and results from previous research studies. It was concluded that, for the participants, there is an issue with the juvenile incarceration rate, that experiences working with youth in the pipeline are mostly positive, and there is a history of negative experiences working with the public education system. Finally, recommendations for both action and future research were given.Ed.D., Educational Leadership and Management -- Drexel University, 201
Implementation of a New Practice Plan for Preoperative Communication in a Preoperative Testing Unit
No full textPreoperative patient education is an essential component of patient safety and satisfaction in today’s healthcare arena. Kruzick (2009) suggested that changes in preoperative patient education, particularly in a preadmission assessment testing unit (PATs), is an excellent starting point for an improvement in patient safety and for the increase in satisfaction ratings. Miscommunication, anxiety and poor patient satisfaction were common occurrences at this university teaching hospital in Philadelphia, PA. Patients presenting to this PAT unit were targeted by this new preoperative educational intervention using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2014 “Before Surgery” patient communication guidelines. These 2014 guidelines were used to query patients verbally and then were compared to the current rudimentary and non-standardized educational assessments over a 6-week period. Outcomes assessed were the nurse practitioners (NP) thoughts on patient satisfaction and perioperative communication levels, measurable with a qualitative focus-group survey. A surprising discovery found during this clinical research was the disconnect between a patient’s self-reported medical history and their present health state. In researching this PAT unit, a great deal was learned about the vital role an NP has in this clinical setting. The theory of Ida Jean Orlando’s (1987) “Nursing Process Discipline Theory” guided this project. Lowest costs were maintained by using existing equipment and the freely accessible WHO (2014) guide. Implementation was guided by a desire to address healthcare disparities in this hospital’s most medically and socially vulnerable population. The outcome measures show that some improvement was visible and recommendations for a revamp of this Philadelphia, PA hospital’s PAT department would be warranted.D.N.P., Nursing -- Drexel University, 201
Analysis of a clonal repertoire containing insertions and deletions
Get PDFIn my thesis I sought to characterize the patterns of somatic insertions and deletions in B cell receptor genes in the healthy immune repertoire of B cell clones. B-cells can produce a highly diverse array of B-cell receptors (BCRs) to respond to a nearly infinite number of foreign antigens. This diversity is thought to be generated in two main steps: V(D)J recombination and somatic point mutations. I wanted to see if insertions or deletions of multiple nucleotide segments were also involved in enhancing the diversity of the B-cell repertoire. To do so I compared the incidence, size and distribution of in-frame indels that could be selected for or against and out of frame indels that we do not expect to make functional receptors. I found that in frame indels were focused in the variable regions of the V-segment (CDR1, CDR2, HV4) while those indels which produced out of frame BCRs were randomly distributed. The in-frame indel clones were largely between 1 amino acid and 3 amino acids in length. Out of frame indels were mostly of single to four nucleotides in length. Finally, germline diversity of specific amino acid positions was strongly and significantly correlated to the number of in-frame indel events at that position but not to the number of out of frame indels. The categorical difference in the placement and size of in-frame indels compared to out of frame indels, their correlation to germline diversity and the incidence of some not whole-amino acid length indels that saved CDR3 out of frame clones and expanded, imply indels can influence and enhance the diversification process of functional B cell clones.M.S., Biomedical Engineering -- Drexel University, 201
An Investigation of Observable Creative Behaviors in the Higher Education Workplace
No full textAll organizations are constrained by budget and resources. Within these constraints, they also strive to maintain or enhance timeliness, quality and productivity. Ivy Plus universities are no exception. Through their applied creativity, administrative staff within these universities are key to navigating these challenges in ways that advance their institutions. This mixed methods study sought to identify specific on-the-job behaviors that support workplace creativity within Ivy Plus universities. The research questions were as follows: 1. What on-the-job behaviors are indicative of relevant creative performance among administrative staff? 2. How frequently do managers observe these behaviors in workplace activity among staff? 3. Is there a relationship between observable creative behaviors and workplace performance? Data was gathered using three rounds of surveys. The first survey gathered open ended and divergent observations of workplace creativity behaviors from a sample of training and organizational development professionals about observable creativity behaviors; thirteen behaviors emerged from this qualitative data. Next, training and organizational development professionals were asked to rate the importance of these behaviors on a 5-value Likert-type scale or to indicate they were not applicable to workplace creativity. Finally, a sample of staff managers identified by training and organizational development professional from within their university were asked to rate both the importance and frequency of these creative behaviors in the workplace. There was slight alignment among training and development professionals and staff managers on the importance of the identified creativity behaviors. However, there were differences between managers' ratings of importance and frequency. This confirms that training and organizational development professionals have identified common, relevant workplace behaviors related to creativity and that the relationship between the creative behaviors and workplace performance requires further research.Ed.D., Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum -- Drexel University, 201
Finding and Implementing Boundaries with Children with Developmental Disabilities in Art Therapy Processes and Materials
No full textThis development of a method capstone thesis looked at how boundaries can be both taught and reinforced through art therapy materials and processes when working with young (three to five-year-old) children with developmental disabilities (DD). For this project, mess making was an important process for children to learn self-expression, communication and containment. As well, this method focused on embracing and tailoring the inherent mess making qualities in the art of young children to also help reinforce boundaries. Boundaries were explored through five different but related interventions. Paint boxes and containers were used to promote containment and appropriate boundaries between children. Sessions were structured with a clear ending to help children internalize the time boundary of the session. Art materials that were distributed in small amounts meant that children could only use the material until it was depleted. Tape use was explored for its unique material qualities that allow it to be both fluid and structured at the same time. Finally, verbal boundaries that aligned with the site’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) treatment method were used to distinguish boundaries both between children and with materials. The implementation of this media-based method seemed to be helpful for the children to concretize and internalize boundaries to work towards their treatment goals.M.A., Art Therapy and Counseling -- Drexel University, 201
Exploring Factors That Influence Employee Motivation to Transfer Training from a Leadership Development Program: A Qualitative Case Study
No full textDespite the investment of considerable time and money to provide employees with access to high performance leadership professional development, the extent to which training transfer takes place is unclear. At risk are organizational investment, leader growth, and organizational effectiveness. The desire to optimize training transfer remains critical but elusive for trainers, human resource development (HRD) practitioners, and training transfer researchers. This challenge is referred to as the transfer problem. Motivation to transfer has emerged as a construct of interest as it is strongly and positively associated with training transfer. The purpose of this study was to explore trainees' motivation to transfer training delivered in a leadership development program situated within a large, nonprofit organization. Through the exploration of transfer motivation, factors that drive or restrain leaders' motivation to apply trained knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) obtained back to their workplaces were identified. Literature pertaining to training transfer, motivation to transfer, and leadership professional development was reviewed and served as the research foundation for the study. An instrumental case study approach was utilized; data collection involved interviews of eight alumni of a leadership professional development program and review of documentation and archival records associated with the leadership professional development program. First cycle coding and thematic analysis were employed to analyze the data. Although the combination and magnitude of forces that positively and negatively impacted motivation to transfer varied among participants, several factors emerged prominently from analysis. Driving forces included perceived value of training content, perceived applicability of training content, learning orientation, perceived need for leadership development, work commitment, networking opportunities, feedback and coaching, and self-assessment. Restraining forces included perceptions of the work environment, initial impressions of the program, timing challenges during the program, online learning, and workplace difficulties. Organizational leaders, trainers, and HRD practitioners can utilize these insights to guide the development and implementation of future leadership professional development programming. Recommendations emerging from this research include strategies for optimization of transfer motivation by maximizing driving forces and minimizing restraining forces at the individual, team, and organizational levels of analysis.Ed.D., Education -- Drexel University, 201
A numerical model for the prediction of air entrapment in powder compaction
No full textThe purpose of this work is to enhance simulations of powder compaction by predicting the air entrapment mechanism. A previous numerical solution predicted the entrapped air pressure of a one dimensional compact. This work expands on this previous solution to produce a model that predicts the entrapped air pressure of a compact in two dimensions. By increasing the model to two dimensions, a more accurate estimate of entrapped air was produced. Additional insights on the mechanism of air entrapment were explored. The effects of compaction speed and the size of the punch-die gap on the entrapped air pressure were studied. Pre-compression was also modeled and the effects of the pre-compression relative density and the rest period were determined.M.S., Materials Science and Engineering -- 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 preferencesD.N.P., Nursing Practice -- Drexel University, 201
Characterization of Allosteric Modulators of Glutamate Transporters: Selectivity and Potency Screening: Implication for Drug Development and Understanding Allosteric Modulation of Glutamate Transport
No full textGlutamate excitotoxicity is the result of increased extracellular glutamate levels, which causes overactivation of post synaptic neurons, excessive calcium influx and further downstream signaling resulting in cell death. Excitotoxicity is associated with a number of acute and chronic CNS disorders such as stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), epilepsy, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson's disease, mental illness, Alzheimer’s disease, neuropathic pain and drug addiction. Excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) is responsible for rapid removal of the majority of extracellular glutamate, thus maintaining the glutamate homeostasis and preventing excitotoxicity. Therefore, enhancing the function of this transporter could be a promising approach towards preventing or treating the harmful effects of excitotoxicity. Previous studies have identified a compound from a spider venom that enhanced the function of EAAT2 and displayed neuroprotective properties. Later, the site of interaction of this compound on the transporter was identified, and this information was employed to generate a pharmacophore, that in turn was used to perform a virtual screening of a large library of compounds. This approach identified novel compounds that were characterized as positive allosteric modulators (PAM) of EAAT2, in glutamate uptake assays in transfected COS-7 cells and in glial cultures. Nonetheless, the compounds derived from the virtual screening had poor drug-like properties. To address this issue and progress the studies toward drug development, several analogs were designed and synthesized in collaboration with a medicinal chemistry lab. The purpose of this study was to screen these compounds for efficacy, potency and selectivity in glutamate transport assays. Additionally, a compound derived from Parawixia bistriata venom, Parawixin10 (PWX-10) was also studied. Our goal was to identify a lead compound that is an EAAT2 PAM with good drug-like properties that can progress to in vivo studies. In structure activity relationship (SAR) studies, compounds were first screened in assays in overexpressing COS-7 cells (transfected with EAAT1, EAAT2 and EAAT3 respectively) and in cultured astrocytes. The selectivity of stimulatory compounds were confirmed through dose response assays in other types of neurotransmitter transporters (GABA, Glycine and monoamine transporters) and the mechanism of allosteric modulation was confirmed through kinetic studies by comparing the Vmax and Km values. Selected stimulatory compounds were studied for their neuroprotective properties in in vitro models in neuron/glia cultures subjected to excitotoxic insults by application of glutamate and by deprivation of oxygen and glucose. Using this approach, we have identified three non-selective PAMs of EAAT1-3 transporters: VY-3-285, VY3-286 and NA-005, three PAMs of EAAT1 and EAAT2: DA-050, DA-058, PWX-10, and a few inactive compounds and negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) of glutamate transporters. Moreover, we identified one selective EAAT2 PAM, NA-014, with good efficacy and potency and, importantly, remarkable neuroprotective properties in two in vitro models of excitotoxicity. Future directions include examining the effects compound NA-014 in in vitro and in vivo models, such as TBI, neuropathic pain and epilepsy. The NAMs of EAAT2 and other subtypes of transporters identified can be used in future studies to understand mechanisms of allosteric modulation of glutamate transport.M.S., Drug Discovery and Development -- Drexel University, 201
Exploring the disconnect between the teacher idealized and teacher enacted curriculum when preparing students for the Algebra 1 Keystone Exam
No full textThe implementation of the Pennsylvania Algebra 1 Keystone Exam brought many changes to the mathematics classroom for both teachers and students. The purpose of this case study will be to explore how teachers at a charter school respond to testing requirements through adjustments in how and what they teach and to understand and explain the disconnect between teachers enacted and idealized curricula. The hypothesis is that when courses are tied to high-stakes exams, teachers' modifications in instruction will result in a curriculum and instruction that more closely follows the formal curriculum. As such, this study will focus on answering the following questions: 1.) How are the participating math teachers structuring student learning to prepare their students for success on the Algebra 1 Keystone Exam? 2.) What rationale does each participating math teacher give for explaining why they structure student learning the way they do and how does this rationale connect to preparing students for success on the Algebra 1 Keystone Exam? 3.) In what ways do teachers discuss their intentions to modify both what they teach and how they teach? And why do they make such decisions? This qualitative multi-case study collected data from teacher lesson plans, teacher observations, and interviews. Data was analyzed utilizing a framework that was based on the research questions as well as the literature review streams of high-stakes assessments, teacher autonomy, and the enacted curriculum. Four key findings emerged from this study: (1) The teachers followed good teaching practices and not just test preparation techniques, (2) there was a focus on the process of doing mathematics and not just the product, (3) the teachers were aware that their students were not able to fully engage in a student-centered program of instruction, and (4) the Algebra 1 Keystone teachers were ultimately held to the practicalities of the exam. Based on the findings, it was recommended that administrators should utilize lesson study techniques to further student development, create internalized professional development for their teachers, and implement the CRAMATH method in order to develop abstract thinking in Algebra 1 students.Ed.D., Educational Leadership and Management -- Drexel University, 201