The availability of OpenCL for FPGAs along with High-Level Synthesis tools have made FPGAs an attractive platform for realizing massively parallel compute-intensive applications. FPGAs with their customizable data-path, deep pipelining abilities and enhanced power efficiency features are the most viable solutions for programming and integrating them with heterogeneous platforms. Furthermore, OpenCL for FPGAs raises many challenges which require in-depth understanding to better utilize their enormous capabilities. In this work we identify, analyze and categorize the semantic differences between the OpenCL parallelism and the execution model on FPGAs. As an end result we propose a generic taxonomy for classifying FPGA parallelism potential.
At the same time, new design challenges continue to emerge for massive thread-level parallelism on FPGAs. One major execution bottleneck is the high number of memory stalls exposed to data-path which overshadows the benefits of data-path customization. We introduce a unique approach for hiding the memory stalls on FPGAs when running massively parallel applications and present a novel LLVM-based tool for decoupling memory access from computations. To enable systematic decoupling, we use the idea of kernel parallelism and implement a new parallelism granularity that breaks down kernels to separate data-path and memory-path (memory read/write) which work concurrently to overlap the computation of current threads with the memory access of future threads (memory pre-fetching at large scale).
We next move to the Xilinx based AWS cloud platform and conduct an exhaustive study on the scalability of OpenCL coarse-grain parallelism, Compute Unit(CU) replication on cloud FPGAs. In addition we present a generic template and a front-end design exploration tool to explore and identify the optimum CU number for a given application, while hiding the programming and exploration difficulties from programmers.
This research portrays a personal journey of a middle school language arts teacher working with LGBTQ+ students. Using autoethnography as the method, this study interprets personal narratives about the researcher’s adolescent identity development in connection with current culturally relevant teaching practices, specifically for LGBTQ+ students. As the subject of my own study, I focused on the relationships and cultural immersion experiences of my personal identity development. This qualitative research method invites the reader to gain insight into the subculture of this study through the experiences of the author. Perspective, being a root of the study, is unique to the author as well as the reader. Through this autoethnography, the reader is able to gain insight into the formation of a classroom teacher’s identity that shape attitudes and practices within the classroom. This study represents the seeds planted to grow the tree that fosters a culturally sustained classroom.
Family business leaders often include preserving socioemotional wealth (SEW) and successful intergenerational succession efforts in their list of primary non-economic goals, yet most next-generation family members seek careers outside of the family business.
This research aims to understand how internal family dynamics affect the development of psychological ownership feelings towards the family business in next-generation family members. The moderating effect of gender, as socially constructed, was also explored.
Data was collected using a snowball technique and an anonymous online survey (n=161) and was analyzed using regression analysis. Next-generation family members were encouraged to participate regardless of their ownership of, or employee status within, the business. The family dynamics measured were cognitive cohesion, emotional cohesion, adaptability, communication, intergenerational attention to needs, and authority. Findings are included, followed by discussion, limitations, and future directions for research. Currently, family business scholars have a limited understanding of how and when psychologically related micro-factors manifest in next-generation family members; however, relationships have been identified between a business family's internal dynamics and the development of certain attitudes, beliefs, and feelings held by their next-generation family members. Despite this research's similarities to past examples in the SEW and related literature streams, no support was found for this study's hypothesized relationships. Additional empirical research is necessary to understand when and how a business family's internal dynamics influence the manifestation of psychological ownership feelings in their next-generation family members.
Step voltage regulator (SVR) has been utilized in the power distribution systems for decades. The induced arc from the conventional SVR tap change and the voltage instability from the renewable energy penetration impose constraints on the conventional SVRs’ lifetime. With more distributed power generation and renewable energy penetration, voltage fluctuation and power generation variation can be observed more frequently in the modern power distribution network.
Motivated by the issues mentioned above, several PE-assisted arcless tap change topologies are proposed to reduce the contact erosion rate of tap changers in SVR. The system efficiency is the same with the conventional SVR in normal operation, while the converter power rating is only 0.3% of the total system power, which also reduces the system cost compared with the full power electronics solutions. Based on the proposed arcless tap change mechanism, a hybrid voltage regulator is proposed. Stepless load voltage regulation is achieved while the tap changer mechanism remains in the system, which helps to promote the upgrade to the existing power distribution systems.
Si/C composite materials have attracted enormous research interest as the most promising candidates for the anodes of next-generation lithium-ion batteries, owing to their high energy density and mechanical buffering property. However, the major disadvantage of materials with ultra-high capacities, such as Si-based materials, is the significant volume change during cycling, which further leads to mechanical and electrochemical degradation. A comprehensive computational model is indispensable in the developing process of the excellent performance of anode material due to the low realizability, inconvenience, and high cost of experiments, which also provides powerful tools for fabrication guidance of novel Si/C composites designs. Hence, this study explores the multiphysics behavior of Si/C anodes material from the atomic level to cell level using DFT modeling and FEA methodology, systematically revealing the coupling mechanism among various physical fields, as well as providing efficient and powerful tools in the design, development, and evaluation of high energy density lithium-ion batteries.
Special education continues to be the most litigated area of education with minimal requirements for the local education authority, typically an administrator, to have a fundamental understanding of special education law and practices. Additionally, federal, state, and local accountability measures indicate a significant achievement gap between students with disabilities and their peers. Given these concerns, there is a need for research on ways to improve administrator’s knowledge about special education as well as close the achievement gap between the two groups.
This qualitative study aims to explore perceptions about the role of an administrator for special education programming in order to identify specific areas of special education programming knowledge administrators need to be effective for special education. Interviews were conducted with three key stakeholder groups: special education teachers, general education teachers, and administrators, in order to ascertain converging and diverging perspectives about the role of an administrator for special education programming.
Findings in this study supported prior work around the lack of knowledge administrators had about special education law and practice. However, the findings went further to explore the skills needed to implement the knowledge administrators need in order to be effective for special education programming. Specifically, this study found that educational philosophy was an influential aspect to overall effectiveness of administrators for special education. Additionally, the ability to advocate (or champion) for the betterment of all stakeholders, and growth mindset were identified as key themes participants felt were necessary for an administrator to be effective for special education programming. These findings support the need for additional training that education administrators should receive to not only understand special education law, but also how to be an effective administrator for special education programming.
KEY WORDS: Special education, School administrators and special education, Administrator preparation, Systems Thinking Theory, Administrator roles
Poverty is a global problem dating back to the early nineteen hundred. Issues, such as income inequalities, food insecurities, poor education, lack of good health care, and housing challenges haven often been highlighted in research. The plight of low-income households remains an important topic. Prior research shows entrepreneurship as a possible answer, but how could low-income households take advantage of the opportunity that entrepreneurship provides? Researchers have also shown that a high percentage of low-income households engage in informal entrepreneurship because of the low cost of entry. Not all low-income household that are entrepreneurs’ practice in the informal sector. Thus, what are the factors that contribute to low-income households’ participation in the formalization of entrepreneurship? This dissertation empirically investigates the relationship between social cohesion and the degree of entrepreneurship formalization of low-income households. It further studies the moderating variables family support, risk propensity, and locus of control. The findings suggest that social cohesion has a significant impact on the degree of entrepreneurship formalization, but family support and locus of control do not moderate the relationship. However, risk propensity has a significant negative influence on the relationship between social cohesion and the degree of entrepreneurship formalization.
Entrepreneurship is of crucial importance in facilitating economic recovery and growth. While research largely focuses on the role of the individual entrepreneur, venture success also depends on the ability for the entrepreneur to attract and retain top employees. This dissertation investigates some of the state-like psychological resources that can predict entrepreneurial employee outcomes. We examine how employee performance (specifically turnover and promotions) within an entrepreneurial venture is influenced by the employee’s written language expresses one's PsychologicalCapital (PsyCap), and how this relationship is moderated by employee gender. This study consists of 174 hired employees from a young digital new venture. All behavioral and demographic data was provided to further the research and understanding of how employee PsyCap measurement can help optimize hiring and retention. Overall, the study's findings offer promise in advancing PsyCap utilization in selection activities, while better understanding if the interaction of gender changes performance. This study makes three unique contributions to the literature. First, this dissertation adds to the minimal stream of research that currently exists at the intersection of human resources and entrepreneurship. Second, this study expands current PsyCap literature by leveraging its usability to understanding entrepreneurial employees. The third contribution comes in expanding the potential use of content text analysis during the hiring process for new ventures. Implications from this study, as well as recommendations for future studies, are also discussed.
Road crashes remain a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. The rush-hour period represents the time with the highest human and vehicular road densities. This dissertation aims to assess the environmental factors associated with fatal crash injuries during the rush and non-rush hour period, assess the association of substance use and non-fatal crash injuries during the rush and non-rush hour period, and assess the association of crash response time and deaths at crash scenes during the rush and non-rush hour period. To address these aims, nested spatial negative binomial regression, partially proportional ordinal logistic regression, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. During the rush-hour period, the median fatality rate per county was 7.30 per 100,000 population. Highways had the highest fatality risk, after adjusting for the interaction effect of intersection, driveway, ramp, and work-zone. Also, after adjusting for confounders, substance use was associated with over two-fold increased odds of critical and emergent injury outcomes as compared to low acuity injuries. Further, a minute increase in the Emergency Medical Service travel time was associated with increased odds of death-at-the-scene. Crash prevention policies may target the rush hour period to reduce fatal and non-fatal crash injuries.
Coming from countries across the world, immigrants have chosen to start a new life in the United States, and become part of the fabric that makes up American society. Today, immigrant children face a unique set of challenges and hardships including trauma, acculturative stress, and poverty. Helping to support their needs is a diverse workforce of helping professionals, providing support in a variety of settings. After-school programming has been utilized as a successful approach to supporting immigrant children, and by extension their families and communities. It is unique for children in after-school programs to be supported by staff that share similar lived experiences and ethnic backgrounds. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the issues facing first-generation and immigrant staff caring for immigrant youth in a supportive after-school program. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 8 participants via Zoom to facilitate in-depth descriptions of their perspectives. Six participants were interviewed twice over a period of six weeks to explore their experiences and perspectives across a time span during the Covid-19 pandemic. Two participants were interviewed once due to scheduling conflicts. The Pragmatic Qualitative Data Analysis (PQDA) method was utilized to analyze data from the interviews and observational field memos. A total of three major themes emerged from the data that included: (a) Emotional Labor, (b) Identity Development, and (e) Covid-19 Pandemic Impacts. This research found that there was a relationship between the central themes of emotional labor, Covid-19, and identity development. Participants’ experience of emotional labor created the unique space for employees to create and reinforce their own cultural identity, while being open and supportive to the various cultural identities. This sense of support from colleagues added a mediator which helped participants to cope with the stress of emotional labor and the Covid-19 pandemic. Other implications for counselors, organizations, policy and future research investigations are explored.
