Digital Commons Network^™

Racial Hierarchy And Mental Health Outcomes Among Rich Nations, Jamie D. Daniels

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study examined the relationship between racial diversity and mental health outcomes among wealthy nations. It hypothesized that status anxieties would be more pronounced in those countries marked by greater diversity—a measure of social stratification or hierarchy. Lower status as measured by class has been shown in numerous studies to predict mental health outcomes, like risk of depression and psychosis for individuals. On a population level research has also found a relationship between income inequality—the degree of distance between the rich and the poor—and mental health outcomes. Regression analyses of the prevalence of mental illness against racial diversity showed no …

Clinician's Treatment Decisions For A Combat-Related Trauma And Military Sexual Trauma : A Comparative Study, Stefanie Carreiro

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Combat-related trauma and military sexual trauma (MST) are two types of trauma one can be exposed to while serving in the military. Although there are some similarities in the two types of trauma there are many more differences. Therefore, this study investigated what factors influence clinicians' treatment decisions for combat-related trauma and military sexual trauma and whether or not clinicians consider the differences in the two types of trauma when determining treatment approaches. A convenience sample of licensed trauma-oriented clinicians (N=108) completed an anonymous, self-administered survey online. Overall, results showed that clinician characteristics (e.g., experience and formal training, theoretical orientation, …

Exploring The Impacts Of Disclosure For The Transgender And Gender Non-Conforming Therapists, Samuel B. Lurie

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) people face numerous challenges and disparities as members of a marginalized and stigmatized group (Grant, et al., 2011). With the increased visibility of the transgender and gender non-conforming community, there are also more TGNC people becoming professionally trained therapists, and there is a lack of guidance on navigating this particular experience. Four focus groups were conducted in the northeastern part of the United States with 19 total participants who are all Master's level or above mental health clinicians who identify as TGNC. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory study was to examine the experiences of …

From Sadomasochism To Bdsm : Rethinking Object Relations Theorizing Through Queer Theory And Sex-Positive Feminism, Simon Z. Weismantel

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical thesis explores the phenomenon of BDSM. BDSM is a type of consensual erotic experience that covers a wide range of interactions between or among people. Referencing the compound acronym BDSM, these interactions encompass: bondage and discipline; dominance and submission; and sadism and masochism. This project investigates psychoanalytic conceptualizations of BDSM, often called sadomasochism in analytic literature. In particular, object relations theory conceptualizations of BDSM are explored. Object relations theorists have tended to identify sadomasochism as pathology. This thesis explores and uses queer theory and sex-positive feminism to analyze two important object relations authors' writings on sadomasochism (i.e., Otto …

New York City And Boston Upward Bound Programs : Strengthening Academic Confidence In Low-Income Students, Giselle Regalado

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study examined the impact of New York City and Boston Upward Bound Programs on academic performance among low-income college alum. The dependent variables were academic self-confidence and academic performance; and the independent variables were New York City and Boston Upward Bound Programs. Participation criteria included only alums from Upward Bound programs in New York City and Boston, college graduate, access to Upward Bound Facebook social media pages, 18 years of age or older, and read English. The sample was random and consisted of thirty-three Upward Bound alumni who completed an online survey. Albert Bandura's Self-Efficacy and Social Learning Theory …

Smith College Ssw Graduates And Their Preparedness In Working With African American Women Ipv Survivors, Shannon M. Samuels

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was developed to review the Smith College School for Social Work (SCSSW) curriculum and to gauge whether or not alumni felt prepared to work with African-American women victims of interpersonal violence (IPV) post-graduation. Secondly, how do these clinicians incorporate cultural competency and the theory of historical trauma/trauma of oppression when working with African-American victims and survivors of IPV? An online questionnaire was sent to alumni of Smith College SSW who graduated no earlier than 2008. Seventy-one graduates were surveyed and asked to reflect on their coursework, field work and projects completed at Smith in terms of the level …

Clinician Perspectives On The Human-Animal Bond And Its Impact On Levels Of Compassion And Prosocial Behavior, Pear M. Wilson

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Animal-assisted therapy is an increasingly popular mode of therapeutic treatment, supported by a body of research that has grown significantly in the past decade. Thirteen seasoned clinicians utilizing the human-animal bond (HAB) were interviewed about the HAB's impact on clients at the internal level of experienced compassion and the corresponding external level of pro-social behavior. Major finding were that clinicians overwhelmingly endorsed the HAB as an effective intervention in increasing client capacity for compassionate mindfulness and engagement with others in a more satisfying and pro-social way. Participants strongly recommended that the field of social work be more inclusive of animal-assisted …

Women And The American Wilderness: Responses To Landscape And Myth, Gina Bessetti-Reyes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Women and the American Wilderness: Responses to Landscape and Myth" explores three, middle to upper-class white women's responses to wilderness from texts published between 1823 and 1939. Through an exploration of James Fenimore Cooper's heroine Elizabeth Temple in the novel The Pioneers (1823), Isabella Bird's published letters entitled A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains (1873), and Muriel Rukeyser's reaction to the Gauley Bridge Tragedy of the 1930s in her book of poems The Book of the Dead (1939), I show that women's responses to the American wilderness not only included a reaction to the physical terrain but also to …

Development Of Nickel Oxide And Manganese Oxide Nanostructured Binary Modified Anodes For Methanol Electro-Oxidation, Ghada El-Nowihy

Chemical Engineering

In this investigation, a nanoparticle-based binary catalyst composed of nickel oxide (nano-NiOx) and manganese oxide (nano-MnOx), both were assembled on a platinum substrate, was developed for the direct methanol electro-oxidation (MO) in an alkaline medium. The morphological investigation was performed using field-emission SEM and revealed the electrodeposition of MnOx in a nanorod structure and NiOx in round-shaped nanospheres. The electrocatalytic activity of the modified electrodes towards MO depended critically on the order of deposition of the two oxides. The optimum electrocatalytic activity was obtained at the MnOx/NiOx/Pt electrode (in which nano-NiOx was directly electrodeposited onto the Pt surface followed by …

Reuse Of The Product Obtained On Grinding Kiln Rollers In The Manufacture Of Ceramic Wall Tiles, Mai H. Roushdy, Shereen K. Amin, Marwa Mohamed, Magdi F. Abadir

Chemical Engineering

The production of ceramic tiles and to a lesser extent flat dinner ware and pottery is increasingly being done by firing in roller kilns. These kilns offer several advantages over conventional tunnel kilns: lower fuel consumption, computer controlled firing curves, low maintenance due to lack of kiln cars, rapid firing cycles of less than one hour and the possibility of shutting down the kiln on short notice.1 One recurrent problem in the operation of such kilns is the periodic need to grind the kiln rollers. These are usually fabricated from high alumina clays and are continuously contaminated by depositions of …

Dealing With The Need Of Greek Ports Expansion : A Public-Private Partnership Opportunity?, Dimitrios Dalaklis, Petros Siousiouras, Antonios Maniatis

Conference Papers

Greece, located at the eastern portion of the Mediterranean Sea (Med) and a country with an enormous number of islands, is a shipping superpower. The Med is amongst the world’s busiest waterways. It provides access to the Black Sea and quite often it is characterized as the most important element of the transport chain between Asia and Europe. The Greek Prime-Minister himself has openly declared his strategic vision to transform the country into a major hub for Europe's commerce; numbers of port-visits in the country under discussion are extremely high and expectations are that with the upcoming recovery of the …

Development Of Nickel Oxide And Manganese Oxide Nanostructured Binary Modified Anodes For Methanol Electro-Oxidation, Ghada El-Nowihy

Chemical Engineering

No abstract provided.

An Updated Synthesis Of The Impacts Of Ocean Acidification On Marine Biodiversity, Tracy Aze, J Barry, R G J Bellerby, L Brander, M Byrne, S Dupont, J-P Gattuso, S Gibbs, L Hansson, C Hattam, Others

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Toxicity Of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles To The Earthworm Eisenia Fetida: Subtle Effects, E Lahive, K Jurkschat, Bj Shaw, Rd Handy, Dj Spurgeon, C Svendsen

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of The Microbial Community, Acidity And Proximate Composition Of Akamu, A Fermented Maize Food, Patience C. Obinna-Echem, Victor Kuri, Jane Beal

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

International Standards For Fetal Growth Based On Serial Ultrasound Measurements: The Fetal Growth Longitudinal Study Of The Intergrowth-21st Project, Aris T. Papageorghiou, Eric O. Ohuma, Douglas G. Altman, Tullia Todros, Leila Cheikh Ismail, Ann Lambert, Yasmin A. Jaffer, Enrico Bertino, Michael G. Gravett, J Alison Noble, Ruyan Pang, Cesar G. Victora, Fernando C. Barros, Maria Carvalho, Laurent J. Salomon, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Stephen H. Kennedy, José Villar

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: In 2006, WHO produced international growth standards for infants and children up to age 5 years on the basis of recommendations from a WHO expert committee. Using the same methods and conceptual approach, the Fetal Growth Longitudinal Study (FGLS), part of the INTERGROWTH-21st Project, aimed to develop international growth and size standards for fetuses.

Methods: The multicentre, population-based FGLS assessed fetal growth in geographically defined urban populations in eight countries, in which most of the health and nutritional needs of mothers were met and adequate antenatal care was provided. We used ultrasound to take fetal anthropometric measurements prospectively from …

Characterisation Of The Vaginal Microflora Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv) Positive And Negative Women In A Sub-Urban Population Of Kenya, Teresa N. Kiama, Rita Verhelst, Paul M. Mbugua, Mario Vaneechoutte, Hans Verstraelen, Benson Estambale, Marleen Temmerman

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Lactobacilli predominate normal vaginal microflora and are important in maintenance of vaginal health. The current study set out to identify and compare culture isolates of vaginal microflora of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive (HIV+ ) and HIV negative (HIV- ) women at different phases during menstrual cycle from a sub-urban population of Kenya. Seventy four (74) women, 41 HIV+ and 33 HIV- , followed up two consecutive menstrual cycles, had high vaginal swabs taken to prepare Gram stains for six visits and anaerobic cultures for four. All 751 isolates identified by t-DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) belong to 51 species. …

Negotiating Crisis In The Social Media Environment: Evolution Of Crises Online, Gaining Credibility Offline, A. Pang, Nasrath Begam Binte Abul Hassan, Aaron Chee Yang Chong

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Purpose– The aim of this paper is to examine how crises can be triggered online, how different social media tools escalate crises, and how issues gain credibility when they transit to mainstream media.Design/methodology/approach– This exploratory study uses the multiple case study method to analyze five crises, generated online, throughout their life-cycles, in order to build analytic generalizations (Yin).Findings– Crises are often triggered online when stakeholders are empowered by social media platforms to air their grievances. YouTube and Twitter have been used to raise issues through its large user base and the lack of gatekeeping. Facebook and blogs escalate crises beyond …

Jms At 50: Trends Over Time, Timothy Adrian Robert Clark, Mike Wright, Zilia Iskaujina, Philip Garnett

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

We present an analysis of the articles published in the Journal of Management Studiessince its inception to assess to what extent JMS has: maintained its leading international ranking; maintained its founding mission as a broad based management journal; and remained a broad based management journal compared to other general management journals. In terms of its impact factor and citations despite reaching a low point in 2001, we find that JMS today ranks higher than it has ever done throughout its 50‐year history. From our content analysis covering the life‐cycle of JMS, we find four areas have been the most frequently …

Developing Building Handover Checklist For Condominium Buyers : Case Study Of Kuala Lumpur / Lim Swee Meng, Swee Meng Lim

Student Works (2010-2019)

In the new millennium century, a lot of property developments are being extended throughout the Malaysia territory. Purchasers of properties encounter numerous problems whenever vacant possession is delivered to them by developers. Besides that, public want to know whether have other building quality assessment as a guideline for them to inspect the properties. The aim of this dissertation is to produce a procedure and a guideline or checklist for the condominium purchaser. Besides that, this dissertation would access building construction quality on the vacant possession during the handover and post-handover process. The research is limited to residential buildings which are …

The Role Of Rosette Formation In Pathogenesis Of Vivax Malaria / Lee Wenn Chyau, Wenn Chyau Lee

Student Works (2010-2019)

Rosette formation is one of the unique biological phenomena that have been linked to pathobiology of malaria. It is believe to be associated with the severe outcomes of falciparum malaria. Most of the knowledge about rosetting is obtained from in-depth studies conducted on Plasmodium falciparum. However, the rosetting phenomenon and pathobiology of vivax malaria is not well studied. This research project aimed at deciphering the unknown aspects behind rosetting phenomenon of P. vivax, and investigating the role of rosette formation in pathobiology of vivax malaria. In total, 121 fresh P. vivax isolates, 48 cryopreserved P. vivax isolates, 122 fresh P. …

Anti-Bacterial And Cytotoxic Effects Of King Cobra (Ophiophagus Hannah) Venom L-Amino Acid Oxidase / Lee Mui Li, Mui Li Lee

Student Works (2010-2019)

King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) venom L-amino acid oxidase (OH-LAAO), a heat stable enzyme, has been shown to exhibit bactericidal activity against several strains of clinical isolates Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Its potency was compared with some common antibiotics such as cefotaxime, kanamycin, tetracycline, vancomycin and penicillin. King cobra venom LAAO was effective in inhibiting Gram-positive bacteria tested, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.78 μg/mL (0.006 μM) and 1.56 μg/mL (0.012 μM) against S. aureus and S. epidermidis, respectively. The MICs are comparable to the MICs of the antibiotics tested. However, the OH-LAAO was moderately effective against the Gram-negative bacteria …

The Impact Of The Applied Progressive Muscle Relaxation Training On The Levels Of Depression, Anxiety, Stress And Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Prostate Cancer Patients / Mohamad Rodi Bin Isa, Mohamad Rodi Isa

Student Works (2010-2019)

Introduction The main aim of this study was to determine the impact of the applied progressive muscle relaxation training (APMRT) on the levels of depression, anxiety, stress and general health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among prostate cancer patients. Methodology A quasi-experimental trial with repeated measurements conducted at two tertiary medical centres in Kuala Lumpur with a follow up period for six months. The intervention group comprised patients who were being followed up at University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) and the comparison group were patients who were followed up at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Baseline information on socio-demographic characteristics, …

The Mediating Role Of Innovation Between Family Influence And Business Performance Of Public Listed Family Businesses In Malaysia / Chong Wei Ying, Wei Ying Chong

Student Works (2010-2019)

Innovation is a sine qua non for many businesses in today’s competitive, complex and capricious environment. Plenty researches have highlighted that innovation is closely linked with business performance. Yet, to date, scant attention has been given to innovation in the world dominant form of business - family business. Even pertaining researches carried out in the past, the focuses are normally on the family versus nonfamily business dichotomy on innovation performance. However, in reality, family influence on business is multidimensional and continuous. The involvement and pattern of family influences vary from business to business. This dissertation seeks to fill these gaps …

Terjemahan Kata Kerja Bahasa Jepun Ke Bahasa Melayu Dalam Sari Kata Filem Animasi Jepun / Sarinah Binti Sharif, Sarinah Sharif

Student Works (2010-2019)

Disertasi ini mengkaji tentang terjemahan kata kerja bahasa Jepun (BJ) kepada bahasa Melayu (BM) dalam sari kata dua buah filem animasi Jepun. Dua buah filem animasi Jepun berkenaan berjudul Majo no Takkyubin （魔女の宅急便）dan Umi ga Kikoeru（海が聞こえる). Kajian ini bertujuan meneliti dan mengenalpasti pola variasi kata kerja yang terdapat dalam kapsyen bahasa Jepun (bahasa sumber) dan teks sari kata bahasa Melayu (bahasa sasaran) dengan membandingkan bentuk-bentuk morfologi dan makna kata kerja daripada kedua-dua bahasa. Perbandingan ini sekaligus bertujuan mencari perkaitan antara konjugasi kata kerja bahasa Jepun dan padanannya dalam bahasa Melayu. Disamping itu, kajian ini juga dijalankan untuk melihat bagaimana kata …

The Antecedents Of Social Media Adoption: A Study On The Role Of Media Needs And Innovation Characteristics / Izzal Asnira Zolkepli, Izzal Asnira Zolkepli

Student Works (2010-2019)

In recent years, the popularity of social media has captured considerable attention, especially concerning medium usage and adoption. This phenomenon is seen as a great opportunity for expanding the marketing mix strategy. For this reason, sufficient knowledge of consumer insight is needed to understand the needs and motivations that drive a consumer to adopt social media. Hence, this research is designed to empirically investigate social media needs in relation to social media innovation. Accordingly, the Theory of Reasoned Action, Tri-Component Attitude Model, Theory of Diffusion of Innovation and Theory of Media Uses and Gratifications are reviewed and extended to explain …

Legal And Regulatory Framework For Public-Private Partnerships In Infrastructure Development: A Case Study Of Three African Models And Core International Frameworks / Adekilekun Mubarak Tijani, Adekilekun Mubarak Tijani

Student Works (2010-2019)

In most developing countries, the provision and supply of public infrastructures and services were, until recently, under the total control of the public authorities. However, because of inefficiencies, corruption, lack of skills and technical knowhow that had plagued, and in fact still continue to plague, the provision and supply of public infrastructure through the traditional public procurement model, as well as the need to harness private capital and expertise, the governments of these countries began to divest themselves of their monopoly in the provision and supply of infrastructures. This paradigm shift from ‘government providing’ to ‘government enabling’ approach necessitates the …

A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Global Economy In Strategic Texts / Mustafa, M. Mustafa

Student Works (2010-2019)

A contentious question in critical discourse analysis has been whether and how ideology is embedded in discourse. This question has attracted attention from scholars within humanities and social sciences. A number of scholars argue that there is a dialectical relationship between discourse and ideology. Discourse internalizes and is internalized. By referring to discourse analysis as an explanatory critique, this study examines the discursive strategies in ideological construction of global economy in strategic texts. A discursive strategy is defined as the tool by which a discourse is given meaning and force and through which its object is described. It is a …

An Inquiry Into Privatisation’S Impact On Healthcare Services In Malaysia / Latifa Bibi Binti Musafar Hameed, Latifa Bibi Musafar Hameed

Student Works (2010-2019)

Malaysia has experienced significant improvements in the delivery of healthcare services since independence. The Malaysian healthcare system has transformed into a resilient dual-tiered parallel system, with a sizable and booming private sector. The unprecedented growth of the private medical sector has had wide ranging implications for the Malaysian health care system. This thesis seeks to examine the consequences of privatisation on the delivery of healthcare services in Malaysia by following the analytical themes associated with the process. The first analytical theme addresses the consequences of the policy on healthcare expenditure borne by the public and private sectors. The second analytical …

Essays On The Co-Operatives’ Performances In Malaysia / Azmah Binti Othman, Azmah Othman

Student Works (2010-2019)

Renowned for the potential in alleviating poverty, co-operative movement has been encouraged and supported by the government. This research investigates co-operative performances and efficiency in Malaysia using quantitative and qualitative methods. The first essay revealed that co-operatives’ role in economic development is still relevant. Credit and banking co-operatives had contributed to the movement’s growth and development. The National Co-operative Plans are important blueprint for co-operative development in the country. Investigation on factors influencing co-operative membership in the second essay revealed that membership is favourable to the older age groups as compared to younger age groups. Those working in government sector …