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The intent of the security standards adopted by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) implementing some of the requirements of the Administrative Simplification (AS) subtitle of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was to improve Federal and private health care programs and to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the health care industry by establishing a minimal level of protection for protected health information (PHI). In this study, registered nurses in an East North Central state were surveyed to determine how their attitudes toward HIPAA security controls affected their behavioral intention to comply with HIPAA security policies and procedures. Findings validated the use of the technology acceptance model (TAM) to study information system success when use of the system in question is expected. Second, findings report on the efficacy of threats on information system success. And lastly, findings discuss practices that are correlated with compliance with the HIPAA security rule. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]

In the 21st century, we have experienced tremendous growth and innovation in medicine and medical technology. From innovative advancements in drug therapies, assisted reproduction, neuroimaging, chemotherapy, robotic surgeries, and improved skillsets for clinicians, the medical community has made tremendous strides in providing extraordinary services to the community at large. However, the history of medical advancements has not been favorable toward people of color. African Americans have been disproportionately affected by medical abuses and experimentations in regards to medical research. The commodification of black bodies assured the medical community that it had an ample supply of research material. What followed was a history of distrust between African Americans and the medical community that has existed to the present time. The writer argues that getting over the hurdle of distrust will require a re-structuring of the fractured relationship between the medical community and the African American community.

Abstract In 1985, professional learning community (PLC) pioneers, Shirley Hord, Richard DuFour and Robert Eaker undertook an exploration of the concept of teachers working in small groups or learning communities. Participants in these initial learning communities shared common experiences, ideas, practices, and developed strategies to address issues they faced in their work with students (Hord 1997; DuFour & Eaker 1998). This concept was supported by McLaughlin and Talbert (1993) when they suggested that, given the opportunity for collaborative inquiry, veteran teachers will share the wisdom they have gained through experience in a way that allows improved teaching practices for all involved. In 2000, Senge, Cambron-McCabe, Lucas, Smith, Dutton and Kleiner, reported that the, “learning organization approach to education” needs to be more than just talking and working in groups. It needs to involve everyone “…in expressing their aspirations, building their awareness and developing their capabilities together” (Senge et al., 2000, p. 5). Over time this learning community concept became known as the professional learning community, or PLC (Hord, 1997). DuFour & Eaker (1998), Lieberman and Pointer-Mace (2009), Darling-Hammond (1996) and Bryk and Schneider (2003), all contended that these professional learning communities have the capacity to transcend reform movements and result in continuous improvement in schools. Over time, many school districts and their leaders have modified the professional learning community concept. They have done so to such a degree that they may no longer achieve, fully, their originally desired or anticipated results. In July 2011, the Minnesota legislature passed House File No. 26 (HF 26), a revision of the statewide teacher evaluation system. This legislation brought about numerous changes to Minnesota Statute 122A.40, subd. 8. One of these changes was the promotion of PLCs in public schools. Even though much has been written about PLCs and their intended uses, limited research was found regarding whether or not PLCs are being implemented consistent with best practice, as identified in research, in the public schools of Minnesota. This study will examine the level to which the key characteristics of PLCs, as identified by DuFour, DuFour, Eaker and Many (2010) are being implemented in Minnesota public schools. It also identifies the barriers encountered by public school districts in implementing PLCs. The conceptual framework for this study was derived from the work of DuFour et al. (2010), in their book, Learning by Doing: A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work (2nd Ed). The purpose of the study is to examine professional learning communities in public schools in Minnesota using the characteristics identified by DuFour et al. (2010). While PLCs are now recommended in all public schools by Minnesota State Statute, there are no studies which examine whether or not these PLCs are being implemented effectively based on best practices described in research. This study attempts to determine if PLCs are in fact being implemented effectively, based on best practices described in research, by: describing and contrasting the characteristics of PLCs employed in public school districts in Minnesota, the districts’ duration of use of PLCs, and district barriers teachers and administrators have encountered when implementing PLCs.

Two distinct sections of research are presented in this thesis. The first section summarizes research conducted on laboratory-built floors. Floors were built and tested to determine the plywood contribution to increasing the bending stiffness, number of joists effective in resisting applied load, and calculation of fundamental frequency. The second section summarizes research conducted on in-situ floors. Procedures were developed to numerically integrate acceleration and velocity data to obtain displacement values. Tests were conducted on 86 subjectively rated wood floors to determine average frequency and peak displacement values. From these tests, a design criterion was developed to predict acceptability of a wood floor system to vibrations.