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Acceleration is one of the best-supported interventions available to gifted education practitioners internationally. However, the acceleration program in Saudi Arabia is still inchoate and could benefit from additional revision. The purpose of this research was to explore Saudi stakeholders’ perceptions regarding their lived experiences with the acceleration program implemented by the Saudi Ministry of Education beginning in 2014. To investigate, I used a qualitative research design and a phenomenological approach. Using semi-structured interviews, 18 Saudi stakeholders were interviewed within six clusters (i.e., three clusters comprising an accelerated gifted student, their parent, and their teacher, plus another three similar clusters with non-accelerated students). Following a thematic analysis method to categorize and synthesize these stakeholders’ perceptions, this approach revealed that Saudi stakeholders believed acceleration as a program was effective for Saudi gifted students. They perceived it as a convenient option, well aligned with gifted students’ characteristics, and as an appropriate recognition of these students’ superiority and dedication. The program was seen as the best available gifted program option in the Saudi context. Participants commended the acceleration intervention for positively affecting gifted students' academic performance. They believed that it provided challenging learning materials, fulfilled academic needs, and led to high grades, intelligence quotient (IQ) scores, and national standardized test scores. They also highlighted the importance of gaining advanced skills after completion. However, stakeholders also criticized the regulations and nomination procedures for the Saudi acceleration program, stating that the procedures were vague, not transparent, and unfair in geographical and other ways. All stakeholders also described a lack of awareness and preparation among teachers, parents, and students. Differences of opinion regarding the impact of this acceleration intervention on the social and emotional status of program participants also reveals contradictions. While some positive aspects included successful adaptation, balancing old and new friendships, maturity, and improved gifted characteristics, other responses mentioned potential negative impacts like anxiety and the pressure of high expectations from the students’ community. In general, Saudi stakeholders believed that the acceleration program positively impacts gifted students' future lives by enabling them to finish school earlier and more efficiently. Successful acceleration also led to scholarships, participation in national programs, and scientific trips, benefiting both society and these gifted students. Furthermore, the discussion revealed implications for practices and policies to improve the acceleration program’s regulation and implementation. Based on these findings, several future research directions are suggested.
The engine of modern society is fueled by information, and the desire to obtain, process and relay it ever more quickly is motivation for scientists to dig deeper into pathways that enable this endgame. The implementation of ever-quicker computer processors, optical fiber-based communications, and Light Radar (LiDar) for climate studies are a small subset that illustrate how ubiquitous the applications of optics are. In this context, the study of 2D materials (2DMs) is important due to the fascinating properties they exhibit that could lead to a plethora of future opto-electronic applications that extend beyond what silicon alone can provide. The story began with graphene due to its high conductivity and tensile strength, but due to the difficulty of switching its conductivity, applications in transistors is limited, and other materials such as the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) MoS2 and WS2, which exhibit a bandgap transition from indirect to direct when going from bulk to monolayer, are being explored. The wide bandgap semiconductor hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has also been piquing interest. The presence of room-temperature stable excitons detected via various spectroscopies suggests applicability in mainstream field-effect transistors, and current industry direction towards so-called ‘nanosheet’ and ‘nano-wire’ channel transistors serve as prime examples of the relevant applicability of such 2D materials. Quantum computing and valley-tronic applications have also been reported [5], making this class of material exciting to study.
When material dimensions are reduced to the single atomic layer (‘monolayer’) limit, fast carrier dynamics become important that can only be investigated by even faster phenomena i.e., femtosecond ‘ultrafast’ laser pulses. When exposed to intense electric fields, several processes can occur; multiphoton absorption (MPA) which utilizes multiple photons to promote a single charge carrier to the conduction band (CB), tunneling ionization (TI) in which the laser field modifies the inter-atomic potential and allows CB access via tunneling, and avalanche ionization (AI) where inter-carrier impact causes ionization. Together, these strong-field ionization (SFI) processes are subject to significant research effort. If SFI-induced excited carrier populations exceed a threshold, damage occurs via a non-thermal ‘ablation’ process typically used for cutting and patterning.
The objective of this work was to explore the ultrafast optical dielectric breakdown (ODB) behavior of 2DMs such as MoS2, WS2, and hBN. The work involves an investigation of the etalon interference effect that causes differences in the ablation threshold fluence for the same material when placed on different substrates, differences in threshold fluence between different 2DMs, as well as an exploration of laser-induced defects added when multiple ultrafast pulses are incident on the material. ODB for the wide bandgap insulator hBN is also demonstrated and characterized using various imaging modalities and spectroscopies for the first time. Through the findings presented in this work, we begin to unravel some aspects of the nature of ablation, particularly the dominance of avalanche ionization as the key carrier generation mechanism in the ODB process in 2D materials. We also establish femtosecond laser direct writing as a useful tool for the nanopatterning of such 2DMs.
Researchers have identified that inequitable learning experiences for African American students have negatively impacted their educational outcomes in the United States, and culturally sustaining practices offer great promises in supporting African American students. This meta-analysis investigated the effectiveness of culturally sustaining practices on African American students’ academic and behavioral outcomes. This study built on prior attempts to synthesize multiple definitions of culturally sustaining practices with recommendations from the literature aimed directly at African American students. In this dissertation, I first used the existing synthesis to establish a theoretical framework with an operational definition of culturally sustaining practices for African American students (CSPAAS). I then conducted a systematic review to identify group design studies aligned with the components of the CSPAAS framework. Effect sizes were extracted from each individual study and a random effects model was employed to determine the overall effectiveness of CSPAAS interventions. Additionally, I evaluated the included studies for methodological rigor using the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC, 2014, 2023) quality indicators to determine the extent to which CSPAAS interventions could be identified as evidence-based practices. Results revealed CSPAAS academic interventions were highly effective (n = 17; g = 1.01) and CSPAAS behavioral interventions were moderately effective (n = 5; g = 0.5). The CSPAAS practices for both academic and behavioral interventions also met CEC (2014, 2023) criteria to be categorized as evidence-based practices. Implications for future research are discussed.
Patients requiring admission to the Trauma Intensive Care Unit (TICU) represent some of
the most critically ill and complex cases within intensive care. These patients, often suffering
from significant trauma to vital areas, may necessitate prolonged enteral feeding, frequently
leading to the insertion of gastrostomy tubes. Despite the critical nature of gastrostomy tube
management for patients with severe trauma and the need for enteral feeding, there is a gap in
knowledge and confidence in this area. This gap necessitates targeted educational programs to
improve patient outcomes. This quality improvement project focused on the nursing staff in the
Trauma Intensive Care Unit (TICU) at a large academic medical center. The nurses received a
comprehensive education module developed according to Lippincott standards, which covered
the different types of gastrostomy tube types, nursing interventions, and documentation practices.
The module included a didactic component and hands-on practice with gastric tube models. A
pre-and post-test knowledge check was conducted to evaluate the learning outcomes. All 43
TICU staff registered nurses at the facility participated. After the educational module's
implementation, significant improvements were observed in nursing staff knowledge regarding
gastrostomy tubes. The median score for the pre-test was 70%, increasing to 100% on the post-
test. Wilcoxon sign-rank test showed a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-
test scores, z = 5.207, p < .001. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the education
module in improving TICU nurses' knowledge of gastric tube care.
Computational materials science plays a crucial role in advancing new and improved materials. To leverage the advantages of local and nonlocal methods and aid in the advancement of predictive capabilities for materials, multiscale models have been introduced. Many such methods have been proposed to overcome computational challenges in accuracy and efficiency. In this work, I begin by presenting a review of some multiscale methods for crystalline modeling to provide context for this dissertation.
Together with my advisor Dr. Xingjie Helen Li, we explore the static behavior of a bottom-up nonlocal-to-local coupling method, Atomistic-to-Continuum coupling, and explore the dynamic behavior of a nonlocal method, Peridynamics, to explore a bimaterial interface.
Inspired by the blending method developed by \cite{Seleson2013} for nonlocal-to-local coupling, we create a symmetric and consistent blended force-based Atomistic-to-Continuum (AtC) scheme for one-dimensional atomistic chains. AtC coupling schemes have been introduced to utilize the accuracy of atomistic models near known defects and the computational efficiency of continuum models elsewhere. The conditions for the well-posedness of the underlying model are established by analyzing an optimal blending size and blending type to ensure the stability of the $H^1$ seminorm for the blended force-based operator. We present several numerical experiments to test and confirm the theoretical findings.
Then, we create a Peridynamics-to-Peridynamics scheme to model a bimaterial bar in one dimension. Peridynamics (PD) naturally allows for the simulation of crack propagation in its model due to its use of integro-differentials and time derivatives instead of the spatial derivatives typical of classical models. Although PD can be computationally intensive, its ability to accurately model fracture behavior, especially at material interfaces, makes it a valuable tool for achieving high accuracy in simulations, especially due to the susceptibility of fracture where differing materials meet. We prove the conservation laws, derive the dispersion relation, and estimate the coefficient of reflection near the interface for this nonlocal-to-nonlocal problem. We seek an optimal nonlocal interaction kernel in the governing equation for the cross-material interaction to reduce spurious artifacts when the kernel is assumed to be constant.
Lastly, I discuss potential future development in Atomistic-to-Continuum coupling and Peridynamics.
Busyness, or how busy someone is, has increasingly become a topic of conversation in day-to-day life. Research has previously explored how people use their time and how people perceive their available time, or lack thereof, but there is no clear answer as to why people tell others that they are busy and what it is they are trying to accomplish by doing so. Drawing on impression management research, this paper proposes that people signal to others that they are busy so that the audience has a positive impression of them. The concept of the busyness façade is introduced, which includes behaviors and verbal statements that are intentionally enacted by individuals to signal to others that they have a lot to do or limited available time. Exactly how and why people engage in this busyness façade is explored in two studies using semi-structured interviews and an online, vignette survey. Overall, evidence is found for the existence of busyness façades and a better understanding of how people display busyness is gained, but the studies are unable to identify a clear motive for why busyness façades would be used as an impression management tactic. Additional findings and research directions are discussed.
Over the past two decades, the Internet of Things (IoT) has seen a significant expansion in both the sophistication and variety of its applications. These applications span several domains, including enhancing and automating services in healthcare, advancing smart manufacturing processes, and elevating home living standards through smart home technologies. These technologies empower individuals with greater control over their home appliances. Smart locks are smart home devices that were introduced as replacements for traditional locks. Smart locks, designed to go beyond the basic functionality of traditional locks by offering additional features, have seen a surge in market growth and competitiveness. According to the Statista Research Department, it is projected that the global market for smart locks will surpass four billion dollars by 2027.
A number of studies have examined end users' concerns, needs, and expectations regarding smart homes in general. However, little research has been conducted to examine these aspects of the smart lock in particular. To address this gap, we conducted a series of user studies that aim to elucidate how smart locks are integrated and interact within smart home environments, focusing on user interactions both with the locks themselves and when they are part of broader automation scenarios. This dissertation contributes to a deeper understanding of smart lock technology from a user-centric viewpoint. It offers insights into user motivations, concerns, and preferences regarding smart lock usage and automation. It also highlights the importance of balancing convenience and security, the pivotal role of trust, and the complexities of integrating smart locks into broader smart home systems.
Fifty percent of African American men with learning disabilities will not persist past their first year of college (Newman et al., 2011). A bachelor’s degree for an African American man means he is five times less likely to be incarcerated than his peers with a high school diploma and will make approximately $32,000 more per year on average than his counterparts without a bachelor’s degree (Trostel, 2015). Frequently neglected and inadequately represented in the existing literature on learning disabilities are the experiences of African American men with learning disabilities in higher education. The purpose of this phenomenological multi-case study was to examine the postsecondary educational experiences of African American men with learning disabilities by exploring the perspectives of both parents and students.
Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted; Six parent interviews and four student interviews. The study answered the following research questions (1) What are the psychosocial experiences of parents of African American young men with learning disabilities at the postsecondary level? (2) What are the primary roles of parents of African American young men with learning disabilities at the postsecondary level? (3) What do parents perceive about the intersecting identities of disability, race, and gender on the social and academic experiences of their African American young man with learning disabilities at the postsecondary level? (4) What are the psychosocial experiences of African American men with learning disabilities attending a Postsecondary Institution? (5) What are the experiences of African American men with learning disabilities attending a Postsecondary Institution regarding social and academic supports?
Based on the data analysis, three parent themes and two student themes emerged respectively: (1) Bubble Wrap Parenting, (2) The Changing of the Guard, and (3) In the Intersection of Black and Disabled; (1) Right in the Middle of the Dichotomy, and (2) The Juggling Act. The findings underscore that when Black men with learning disabilities receive services that segregate them from their peers, they face a forced choice between preserving their identity and accessing necessary support. One recommendation arising from these findings is to make support services universally available. This entails granting all students access to supports such as assistive technology and note-taking apps that have traditionally been exclusively available for the disabled population. By doing so, any stigma surrounding segregated support would be eliminated.
Within the context of higher education, student conduct administration is drenched in risk, compliance with local and federal laws (Glick & Haug, 2020). In short, student conduct is a complex, and challenging functional area to work in, as administrators to balance educating students, protecting the campus community, and mitigating institutional risk (Miller & Sorochty, 2015; Lancaster & Waryold, 2008).
This qualitative, phenomenological study aimed to explore the lived professional experiences of student conduct administrators; to better understand their struggles and needs, as they would describe. Semi-structured interviews were used to capture depth in the shared experiences of ten participants and describe the meaning assigned to the phenomenon being explored.
The findings of this study were captured in 4 main themes: (1) Clashing with the Regime, which looks at SCAs challenges navigating political ecosystems within their respective institutions and states, (2) Encountering Turbulence, which captures common challenges SCAs experience while resolving cases (3) Nurtured by Leadership, which looks at the role of SCAs direct supervisor in fostering support and (4) Leaning on the Village, which captures the network of support SCAs receive outside of their direct supervisor.
The battery enclosures of current electric vehicles are made of metallic alloys, specifically aluminum or steel. Replacing these metallic alloys with a lightweight material, such as carbon fiber composite, may offer significant weight savings due to its comparable strength-to-weight ratio. Carbon fiber is corrosion-resistant and can be engineered for fire resistance and electrical insulation. It can also be fine-tuned for specific applications and performance needs, such as "crashworthiness".
Designing a carbon fiber-based battery enclosure for crash performance through trial-and-error experiments can be extremely laborious and inefficient. This inefficiency can be alleviated by using virtual manufacturing and structural analysis software. A simulation software chain allows for the virtual manufacturing and crash-testing of the battery enclosure in a single process. However, these numerical simulations are computationally expensive, time-consuming, and may require significant user interaction. Finding optimal design parameters within a reasonable time-frame can be extremely challenging.
The first part of this dissertation addresses the forward problem of accelerating the design of battery enclosures for crash performance. It involves developing a machine learning-based surrogate model of the simulation workflow that can provide quick, approximate results in a fraction of seconds. This can further support design space exploration studies.
Physical phenomena in engineering design are governed by differential equations, typically solved in a forward manner with known physical parameters, initial and/or boundary conditions, and a source term. However, there is often a need to reconstruct the source term from available measurement data, which may be corrupted with noise, along with the initial and/or boundary conditions, and physical parameters. These types of problems are known as inverse problems, more specifically, inverse source problems. Inverse source problems are often ill-posed and are usually solved by iterative schemes and optimization techniques with regularization, which can be time-consuming. In recent years, machine learning approaches have shown promise in managing ill-posed problems and handling noisy data.
The second part of this dissertation addresses a specific type of inverse source problem, known as the dynamic load identification problem, which involves determining the time-varying forces acting on a mechanical system from the sensor measurements. The study begins with the development of a deep learning model that leverages physics information to infer the forcing functions of both linear and nonlinear oscillators from observational data. Furthermore, the study leads up to a development of a physically consistent surrogate model that is capable of providing robust predictions from the noisy observations without the need to explicitly solve the differential equation.
