Digital Commons Network^™

Specimens, Sara Kapadia

The STEAM Journal

A short rumination on specimens

What Can Democrats Learn From Trump’S 2020 Performance?, Bruce Ledewitz

Newspaper Columns

Collected biweekly contributions to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news site.

“We’Re, Like, The Most Unhealthy People In The Country”: Employing An Equity Lens To Reduce Barriers To Healthy Food Access In Rural Appalachia, Kathryn Cardarelli, Emily M. Dewitt, Rachel Gillespie, Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Natalie Jones, Janet Tietyen Mullins

Dietetics and Human Nutrition Faculty Publications

Introduction

Obesity disproportionately affects rural communities, and Appalachia has some of the highest obesity rates in the nation. Successful policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) interventions to reduce obesity must reflect the circumstances of the population. We used a health equity lens to identify barriers and facilitators for healthy food access in Martin County, Kentucky, to design interventions responsive to social, cultural, and historical contexts.

Methods

We conducted 5 focus groups in Martin County, Kentucky, in fall 2019 to obtain perspectives on the local food system and gauge acceptability of PSE interventions. We used grounded theory to identify perceived barriers and …

The Evolutionary Global Vision Of Chinese Political Philosophy; China's Socio-Economic Transformation In The 21st Century, Meryem Gurel

Master's Projects and Capstones

Evolving relations of East Asia due to trade liberalization raised the search for financial stability for institutional development. It also increased the importance of China integrating the global economy into renewing its political philosophy in the new century. This capstone project aims to examine why China has transformed its socio-economic structure by generating outward investments and how it has affected international political relations in terms of the role of the economic institution Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Quantitative methodology aims to examine the impact of China’s export trade on income distribution and economic growth through linear regression analysis for the …

Reciprocal Empathy: Reversing Antipathy Towards Immigrants In Emotion And Votes, Amanda Gach

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The topic of immigration politics has gained traction in recent years as surges of immigrants are introduced to new homes—often with a long road of integration into the host country ahead. As a result, debates emerged on how to effectively “humanize” members of these outgroups – which include immigrants and refugees alike—while also being able to forge lasting cooperation between these ethnic groups allowing for peaceful integration. Previous attempts to achieve this goal have used various forms of visual and sensory media to generate empathy towards these outgroup members. These approaches have proven to be ineffective when not met with …

Disciplinary Measures And Job Performance Of Library Staff In Academic Libraries In Imo State., Adaora Udo-Anyanwu, Linda Ijeoma Uwandu, Doris Chinyere Obiano

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

The paper examined disciplinary measures and job performance of library staff in academic libraries in Imo State. It was guided by five objectives of the study. The survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study is thirty (34) Heads of Departments in the five academic libraries studied. The instrument for data collection was an online questionnaire rated using the four-point scale. Out of the 34 copies of instrument sent, 28 were returned showing 82% return rate. Data generated from the study were analyzed using mean (x) scores. Findings of the study revealed that; indiscipline …

What Will A Post-Trump U.S. Supreme Court Look Like? It Might Not Be All That Bad For Liberals, Bruce Ledewitz

Newspaper Columns

Collected biweekly contributions to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news site.

Bk Eviction Freeze, Terrence Fraser

Capstones

BK Eviction Freeze is a multimedia campaign created in partnership with community organizers, local artists, and housing lawyers.

Challenges Of Electrifying Medium And Heavy Duty Vehicles In California And How These Challenges Can Be Overcome, Tracy Tilley

Master's Projects and Capstones

California is electrifying medium and heavy vehicles (vehicles weighing over 8,500 pounds) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide environmental justice for disadvantaged communities. These vehicles are used for delivery, construction, refuse collection or long haul trucking. The three main challenges of electrification are infrastructure, policy and funding. To address these challenges, policy analysis was used to review California’s policies already in place for electrification of medium and heavy duty vehicles. Comparative analysis was used to look at policies in other countries and environmental programs for strategies to help electrification efforts.

California faces a lack of infrastructure of medium and …

Cannabis For Therapeutic Purposes: Older Adult Perspectives, User Characteristics And Motivations For Use, Lean Fiedeldey

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Use of cannabis among adults 55 years of age and older is increasing. In Q4 of 2018, slightly over half of cannabis users used for therapeutic purposes at least once, where many reported using for both medical and non-medical reasons (mixed use). Research on older adults regarding the use of Cannabis for Therapeutic Purposes (CTP) is fragmented and there are no comprehensive or in-depth studies on their perceptions or self-reported motivations. Understanding in these areas is important to inform policy that takes the protection of public health and safety as central aims. Does policy affect one of, if not both, …

National Prohibition Alliance

Martha McClellan Brown Ephemera

This flyer has two purposes. First, one side shows the main officers and who is on the Board of Managers. Second, is a short explanation as to what the purposes and goals of the organization are. This brief explanation was written by Martha McClellan Brown as she was Secretary of the organization at the time.

The Electoral College Is Dangerously Vulnerable To Manipulation. It's Time To Fix It, Bruce Ledewitz

Newspaper Columns

Collected biweekly contributions to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news site.

The Way Of The Fight: An Analysis Of Mma Judging, Todd Feldman

Journal of Applied Sport Management

Judging is a controversial but rarely studied topic in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Most MMA scholarship focuses on health (e.g., head trauma) and training (e.g., dieting, strength, and conditioning), with relatively few exploring matters of judging even though judging is of considerable importance to the appeal and integrity of the sport. Thus, the purpose of this study is to fill this research void by analyzing data on MMA judging decisions to determine if MMA judging follows the criteria approved by the ABC MMA Rules Committee. To evaluate MMA judging, FightMetric data were gathered from a period spanning November 17, 2000 …

Through The Funnel: A Critical Policy Analysis Of Educational Policy Relating To The School-To-Prison Pipeline., Jesse V. Hall

Special Education ETDs

The purpose of the present study involved analyzing the policies of the Trump administration to determine the ways it impacted the school-to-prison pipeline. The focus of the study included the Departments of Education and Justice. The findings revealed educational policies and deregulatory practices that maintained and intensified the school-to-prison pipeline.

Confronting Wicked Crypto: Wicked Problems, Encryption Policy, And Exceptional Access Technology, Kevin Nicholas Kredit

Masters Theses

Public debate has resumed on the topic of exceptional access (EA), which refers to alternative means of decryption intended for law enforcement use. The resumption of this debate is not a renege on a resolute promise made at the end of the 1990s “crypto war”; rather, it represents a valid reassessment of optimal policy in light of changing circumstances. The imbalance between privacy, access, and security in the context of constantly changing society and technology is a wicked problem that has and will continue to evade a permanent solution. As policymakers consider next steps, it is necessary that the technical …

A Qualitative Analysis Of End-Of-Life Healthcare In Tennessee: Politics, Principles, And Perceptions, Erin Mauck

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The unprecedented growth of the aging population in Tennessee is a significant demographic trend that highlights the necessity for healthcare policy that tackles end-of-life issues. This study examined the perceived quality of end-of-life healthcare in Tennessee, areas that are in need of improvement, policies that have the potential to influence improvements, and the role of politics in end-of-life healthcare policy. It also assessed the support for end-of-life healthcare policy that would advance quality of care and expand end-of-life choices for Tennesseans, while evaluating the policy-making process that legislators employ.

For this study, data were collected using semi-structured, in-depth interviews with …

A Comparative Case Study To Determine The Correlation That Exists Between The Irish Ppp And The Uk Pfi Policies, Alan Kirby

Doctoral

This research attempts to examine the previous pathway and current state of play in relation to the Irish PPP policy. Commentators have identified that the origins and progression of the Irish PPP programme can be traced back to the UK PFI (PPP) policy. The focus of this study is to examine the relationship, notably ‘the correlation’ that exists between both the Irish PPP and the UK PFI policies. In doing so we examine the components of both policies to try to ascertain what drove Ireland and the UK to introduce such measures, alongside the subsequent amendments that were deemed necessary. …

The Early Impact Of The Affordable Care Act Upon Colorectal Cancer Screening Utilization In Florida, Aldenise P. Ewing, Laura Baum, Rosalyn Roker, Marlene Joannie Bewa, Tali Schneider, Claudia F. Parvanta, Clement K. Gwede, Cathy D. Meade, Dinorah Martinez Tyson

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Although preventable and curable through screening, early detection and treatment, a lack of health insurance is a major obstacle to receiving colorectal cancer screening (CRCS). Despite the Affordable Care Act (ACA) increasing access to health insurance by mandating coverage of CRCS, disparities in utilization rates continue. Therefore, researchers sought to better understand ACA related facilitators and impediments that affect the utilization of CRCS and collect specific recommendations from healthcare professionals to increase screening utilization rates in Florida.

Methods: Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with …

This Year’S Divided Electorate Is A Reminder Of Why We Need Workable, Governing Majorities, Bruce Ledewitz

Newspaper Columns

Collected biweekly contributions to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news site.

What Makes Green Parties Successful: A Comparative Analysis Of Germany, Austria, And France, Macy Miller

Honors Theses

Starting in the 1980s, green parties began to make their debut. Their establishment was considered to be largely in response to environmental and anti-nuclear movements. Although their history has been quite brief, these parties have been making waves throughout the world. Throughout this research, a pattern arises between economic stability and quality of life, mainstream party competition, policy positions, and green voters themselves when examining the success of the green parties. In particular, they have demonstrated great success in the European Union. In an attempt to explain this success, this research explores three specific green parties: the German, the Austrian, …

Alito, Conservative Justices Are Fighting Old Ghosts In Pa. Count All The Ballots, Bruce Ledewitz

Newspaper Columns

Collected biweekly contributions to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news site.

Development Of The Taxonomy Of Policy Levers To Promote High Quality School-Based Counseling: An Initial Test Of Its Utility And Comprehensiveness, Oyaziwo Aluede, Barb Brady, Yuan Ying Jin, Mohammad Mahboob Morshed, John C. Carey

Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation

This article is the second of a two-part series that describes the development of the Taxonomy of Policy Levers to Promote High Quality School-Based Counseling. A previous article (Morshed & Carey, in press) described the development of the Taxonomy using content analysis of existing published descriptions of policy levers used to promote quality school-based counseling. This present article tested the utility and comprehensiveness of the Taxonomy by having experts from South Korea, Nigeria, and West Virginia review policies in their regions.. They analyzed the utility and comprehensiveness of the Taxonomy by using it to describe the school-based counseling policy landscape …

Development Of A Taxonomy Of Policy Levers To Promote High Quality School-Based Counseling, Mohammad Mahboob Morshed, John Carey

Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation

There is a lack of an established framework or taxonomy in the academic literature to systematically analyze school counseling policies. This study was conducted to fill in this gap. Specifically, the researchers propose an initial taxonomy developed based on review of relevant school counseling policy documents and research. The proposed taxonomy has 21 policy levers grouped under seven policy foci covering school counselors’ initial competence, continuing competence, effective school counseling practices, planning and evaluation of school counseling, distinct school counselor roles, hiring of school counselors, and the continual improvement of school counseling system. The Taxonomy is still in a developmental …

Assessing The Relationship Between Organizational Management Factors And A Resilient Safety Culture In A Collegiate Aviation Program With Safety Management Systems (Sms), Daniel Kwasi Adjekum, Marcos Fernandez Tous

Aviation Faculty Publications

Extant research advocates for assessing and continuously improving resilient safety culture in high-reliability organizations (HROs) such as aviation that has a fully functional Safety Management Systems (SMS). Perceptions on the relationship between four (4) organizational management factors (Principles, Policy, Procedures, Practices) and resilient safety culture in a collegiate aviation program was assessed using an online survey instrument drafted using Reason (2011) concept on safety resilience. Sample was drawn from aviation students, flight instructors, faculty and administrators. Structural Equation Model (SEM) and Causal Path Analysis (CPA) techniques were used to assess conceptual models. Results suggest good …

Covid-19 In Spain And India: Comparing Policy Implications By Analyzing Epidemiological And Social Media Data, Parth Asawa, Manas Gaur, Kaushik Roy, Amit P. Sheth

Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced public health experts to develop contingent policies to stem the spread of infection, including measures such as partial/complete lockdowns. The effectiveness of these policies has varied with geography, population distribution, and effectiveness in implementation. Consequently, some nations (e.g., Taiwan, Haiti) have been more successful than others (e.g., United States) in curbing the outbreak. A data-driven investigation into effective public health policies of a country would allow public health experts in other nations to decide future courses of action to control the outbreaks of disease and epidemics. We chose Spain and India to present our analysis …

Financial Capability And Asset Building In Social And Economic Development: Advancing The Sustainable Development Goals, David Ansong, Moses Okumu, Jin Huang`, Margaret S. Sherraden, Lissa Johnson, Li Zou

Center for Social Development Research

The concern for economic well-being undergirds most of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This Perspective articulates an agenda for advancing those goals in resource-constrained countries by leveraging financial capability and asset-building (FCAB) strategies. It also specifies a role for financial technology (commonly called “FinTech”) in this work. The authors conclude with a call for better integrating FCAB and FinTech into plans for advancing the SDGs.

Freedom Of Information Bill, A Policy For National Development: The Library’S Perspective, Patience Ebisemen Lulu-Pokubo Mrs, Andrea Akporoghene Afuedeli Mrs

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

The paper examines freedom of information bill, a policy for national development: the library’s perspective. The provision of timely and accurate information from an authentic source(s) is a booster to national development. Freedom of Information is the right to access information held by government and public institutions. Libraries are positioned to provide and promote access to information which will translate to development of the society. Freedom of information is a necessity in order to salvage the nation Nigeria. This paper therefore, is an opinion paper which gives us an overview of the FOI bill …

Maintaining Integrity Ii: Further Thoughts On Ethics And Original Literature, Thomas G. Endres

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

I have previously argued (Endres, 1987) that allowing original literature in forensics oral interpretation is a bad thing. While I remain true to that sentiment, my focus of blame is shifting from the act itself to the state of the activity, i.e. it seems that lack of policy is the primary culprit which allows the use of original literature to impugn forensics integrity. The primary focus of this essay is on the ethical concerns surrounding the use of original literature, and how the introduction of policy may help preclude unethical behavior. This analysis will first recap arguments from my previous …

Coaches’ And Athletic Directors’ Use Of Strengths In Implementing Policy: An Exploratory Study Of Transgender Policies In U Sports And Ccaa From A Strengths And Hope Perspective, Chelsey Hannah Leahy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In September 2018 U SPORTS released for the first time a transgender policy; CCAA had released their policy seven seasons earlier. Currently there exists no research on how sport administrators (i.e., coaches and athletic directors) might implement these policies, which leads to the purpose of this exploratory study, which was to examine how coaches and athletic directors (ADs) might implement transgender related policy in U SPORTS and CCAA. Framed within a strengths and hope perspective (Paraschak, 2013b), participants’ shared preferred futures were established (Jacobs, 2005) as well as an understanding of how they shaped and simultaneously were shaped by others. …

We Need Independent Judicial Review. We Don’T Need The Filibuster. Let's Get Rid Of It, Bruce Ledewitz

Newspaper Columns

Collected biweekly contributions to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news site.