Digital Commons Network^™

Global Measures Of Gender Empowerment: A Case Study Of Sri Lankan Export Processing Zone (Epz) Workers, Peter Hancock, Sharon Middleton

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This pape r focuses on global measures of gender empowerment released a n- nually by the UNDP and the World Economic Forum. It discusses and critiques these measures on a global level and juxtaposes this analysis against research conducted among women who work in Sri Lanka's Export Processing Zones (EPZs). Global measures of gender equality show that in Sri Lanka gender-based inequality is increasing, despite the nation dramatically improving its economy and poverty levels and meeting some of the Millennium Development Goals. To explain this contradiction, we sampled 2,304 women to explore how they experienced gender and empowerment and to …

Framing Overdiagnosis In Breast Screening: A Qualitative Study With Australian Experts, Lisa M. Parker, Lucie Rychetnik, Stacy Carter

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify how the topic of overdiagnosis in breast cancer screening is framed by experts and to clarify differences and similarities within these frames in terms of problems, causes, values and solutions.

Methods: We used a qualitative methodology using interviews with breast screening experts across Australia and applying framing theory to map and analyse their views about overdiagnosis. We interviewed 33 breast screening experts who influence the public and/or policy makers via one or more of: public or academic commentary; senior service management; government advisory bodies; professional committees; non-government/consumer organisations. Experts were currently …

The Nature Of Attachment Relationships And Grief Responses In Older Adults: An Attachment Path Model Of Grief, Yan Kho, Robert T. Kane, Lynn E. Priddis, Josephine Hudson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Various researchers have theorized that bereaved adults who report non-secure attachment are at higher risk of pathological grief. Yet past findings on avoidant attachment representations and grief have yielded limited and contradictory outcomes. Little research has been conducted with older adults to identify the psychological processes that mediate between self-reported attachment representations and the patterns of grief.

Objective: To examine the impacts of avoidant attachment and anxious attachment dimensions on emotion and non-acceptance, in response to the loss of a conjugal partner, and the mediating effect of yearning thoughts.

Design: Men (N = 21) and women (N …

Current Capacity Building Needs Of Occupational Therapists Related To Older Driver Screening, Assessment, And Intervention, Ranyouri Hines Senia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Older adult safe driving is a growing public health issue; however, the skill set of occupational therapists that provide services to these older clients is unclear. The extent to which occupational therapists possess the skills to evaluate an elderly person's ability to operate safely an automobile is unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional survey was to determine the current capacity building needs of occupational therapists (OT) related to older driver screening, assessment, and intervention. The ecology of human performance framework was the theoretical base of the study. The independent variables were the OTs' training related to older drivers, …

Probe Method's Impact On Students' Motivation And Critical Thinking Skills, Diane Marie Specht

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The probe method (PM) is a learning model that equips students with essential learning strategies and skills so they can be successful and competitive in a highly diverse technological global workforce. Although research indicates this learning model was successful at the elementary school level with improving students' motivation to learn, their critical thinking skills, and their ability to solve complex problems, little research has examined the impact of this method at the high school level for students who participated in a career and technical education (CTE) program. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to fill a gap in …

Communication Constructs That Influence Information Technology Project Failure, Vanessa Lajuan Ruth Mackey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective communication behavioral constructs in the workplace that lead to information technology (IT) project failure and in some cases organization failure are increasingly becoming a management concern. Despite this trend, there is little research on the communication behavioral constructs that contribute to IT project failure rates. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of business analysts, programmers, and programmer analysts pertaining to the behavioral constructs associated with effective and ineffective communication. The research questions addressed these behaviors from a conceptual framework based on communication theory, organizational information processing theory, and critical social theory. This framework …

Diffusion Of E-Textbooks In K-12 Education: A Delphi Study, Sheila Cartwright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This basic interpretive qualitative study was conducted to discover why e-textbooks had not been adopted extensively in K-12 education as a replacement for printed textbooks. The objective was to determine the barriers and challenges being confronted by state educational technology directors when introducing this innovative technology in a formal learning environment that could greatly impact teaching, learning, and creative analysis. This research was based on diffusion of innovation theory using a Delphi method of inquiry. The Delphi panel consisted of 12 experts who had knowledge of digital text technologies and were the most influential when making purchasing decisions when introducing …

Strategies To Retain Tacit Knowledge From Baby Boomers, Rhonda Jean Corwin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Baby boomer employees who leave the workplace without sharing tacit knowledge create a knowledge gap within the organization. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore strategies local government leaders use to retain tacit knowledge of baby boomer employees. Six government leaders who worked in the Midwest United States participated in the study and shared their experiences and perceptions. Building upon systems theory, transformational leadership theory, and knowledge management theory, research was conducted to identify strategies to retain tacit knowledge from retiring baby boomers. Physical artifacts and participant interview data were collected and analyzed using traditional text analysis. …

Motivating Higher Education Faculty For Technology Integration: A Private College's Approach, Jacinth Coultman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some faculty in higher education are not embracing technology in their face-to-face classes. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify and describe faculty members' techniques for improving the technological integration within the curriculum at an urban college. This study investigated the incorporation of professional development activities within the college structure to determine if these mandated requirements resulted in enhanced technology use. Interview and observation data on technology integration practices were collected from 15 faculty members who taught within 5 departments of an urban college for 5 or more years. A combination of open and axial topic and …

The Correlation Between Virtual Communication And Employee Engagement, Ryan Nathaniel Mitchell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Managers' ability to engage virtual employees (those in different geographic locations) is a determining factor of employee productivity and commitment to an organization. Since 2005, the number of U.S.-based virtual employees increased; however, research regarding virtual communication and employee engagement is limited. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine if a significant correlation exists between employee engagement (the dependent variable) and the quantity and perceived quality of virtual management communication (the independent variables). The research question assessed the correlation among the quantity of time managers spend communicating with virtual employees, quality of virtual communication, and employee engagement. Homans's …

Secure-Base Caregiving And Adult Attachment Development Within The Client-Psychotherapist Relationship, Dennis A. Weeks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent studies have shown significant improvements in the attachment security of adult therapy clients during therapy, supporting Bowlby's theory that such improvement can be influenced by secure-base caregiving provided by mentors such as therapists. However, because these studies did not measure the secure-base variable, its relationship to client attachment development remains unknown. The present study is the first to evaluate that relationship by measuring clients' pre and posttherapy attachment security using the Relationship Scales Questionnaire and therapists' secure-base caregiving using the Client Attachment to Therapist and Working Alliance Inventory, Short Form. Of 21 initially insecure client participants, 17 experienced high …

Kinomic Profiling And Drug Screening Of Three-Dimensional Glioblastoma Microtumors As A Potential Comparative Model To Orthotopic Xenolines, Ashley Nichole Gilbert

All ETDs from UAB

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common form of primary malignant brain cancer in adults, is a devastating disease for which effective treatment has remained elusive for over 75 years. A likely reason for the minimal progress during this time is the lack of accurate preclinical models to represent the patient in vivo environment, causing a disconnect in drug therapy effectiveness between the laboratory and clinic. Our proposed solution to address this disconnect and the issues of traditional preclinical modeling is to use innovative HuBiogel-based MicroTumors as a three-dimensional (3D) drug screening model for GBM. Six subcutaneous patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) prepared …

Consequences Of Trps1 Deficiency On Dentinogenesis, Morgan Goss

All ETDs from UAB

Dentinogenesis is a complex process of dentin formation. It involves differentiation of odontoblasts, the cells that make dentin, and the formation of a unique extracellular matrix, known as dentin. Dentin is ultimately produced through the interaction of collagen fibers, non-collagenous proteins and hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals. Odontoblasts are cranial neural crest (CNC) ectomesenchymal derived cells. Trps1 is a novel transcription factor believed to play an important role in both tooth formation and the mineralization process. TRPS1 gene mutations are known to result in dental and skeletal abnormalities manifested in humans as tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome (TRPS) and Ambras syndrome. Trps1 expression varies throughout …

Probing Astrocytes With Carbon Nanotubes And Assessing Their Effects On Astrocytic Structural And Functional Properties, Manoj K. Gottipati

All ETDs from UAB

Single-walled carbon nanotubes, chemically-functionalized with polyethylene glycol (SWCNT-PEG) have been shown to modulate the morphology and proliferation characteristics of astrocytes in culture, when applied to the cells as colloidal solutes or as films upon which the cells can attach and grow. These changes were associated with a change in the immunoreactivity of the astrocyte-specific protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP); the solutes and films caused an increase and a decrease in GFAP levels, respectively. To assess if these morpho-functional changes induced by the SWCNT-PEG modalities are dependent on GFAP or if the changes in GFAP levels are independent events, I …

County-Level Homicide In The United States: An Analysis From A Social Disorganization Perspective, Julien Grayer

All ETDs from UAB

The United States has the highest rates of homicide among industrialized nations. The analysis of variations in the homicide rate lends itself to interpretation through various theoretical frameworks, one of which is social disorganization. Social disorganization is commonly used as a means to discuss crime in the context of neighborhoods and communities. The argument of social disorganization is that criminal activity is curbed by collective efficacy. That collective efficacy is affected by structural variables such as poverty, residential stability, and heterogeneity. The question then became whether social disorganization could be utilized for county-level analysis. The results showed that social disorganization …

G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium (Girk) Chanels Mediate Entrainment Of Circadian Rhythms, Lauren Marie Hablitz

All ETDs from UAB

Circadian rhythms are 24-hour cycles in biological and behavioral processes. These cycles enable an organism to predict changes in its environment, like changes in food availability and seasonality. Although endogenously driven, these rhythms can entrain or synchronize to daily changes in the environment, allowing the animal to adapt. One way entrainment occurs is shifts in circadian phase following the presentation of nonphotic, or non-light, stimuli, such as exercise, arousal, or stress at certain times of day. The molecular mechanisms underlying nonphotic entrainment are poorly understood - specifically, how nonphotic cues alter excitability within the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, …

Comparison Of Gut Microbiomes In Laboratory Cultured Sea Urchins Revealing Selective Attributes Of Microbial Composition Based Upon Their Feed And Surroundings, Joseph Antoine Hakim

All ETDs from UAB

Bacteria residing in the gastrointestinal tract play important roles in digestive physiology and host health. The advent of NextGen sequencing and bioinformatics has made it possible to establish taxonomic profiles with highest coverage, and map these microbes in the gut ecosystem. Although extensively studied in the context of human health, understanding the microbial profiles associated with other organisms will elucidate the roles of the microbial inhabitants to their respective hosts and environment. The microbes of the sea urchin gut have been linked to digestion, processing, and extraction of nutrients from ingesta while within the gut, and have also been implicated …

Unmanned Ground Vehicle Dynamics And Energy Efficiency Control, Mostafa Salama

All ETDs from UAB

Nowadays, energy saving is a prominent concern for scientists and researchers in the automobile industry and academic research institutions. The technological development of more efficient vehicles is a relentless quest. Moreover, maximizing such energy efficiency is essential for vehicle design. Although, existing In-Wheel Motor (IWM) vehicles have successfully improved energy efficiency compared to conventional vehicles, those IWM vehicles are lacking the usage of wheel power distribution strategies to maximize slip energy efficiency. There is a need for researching power distribution among driving wheels that would lead to a breakthrough in off-road IWM Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) energy efficiency. UGV energy …

The Sialyltransferase St6gal-I Promotes A Cancer Stem Cell Phenotype, Matthew Jonathan Schultz

All ETDs from UAB

Alterations in tumor cell glycosylation have been observed for decades, but the functional consequences of specific glycosyltransferase activity are not well understood. This dissertation focuses on the role of the sialyltransferase ST6Gal-I in driving ovarian and pancreatic cancer development. ST6Gal-I adds a negatively-charged sialic acid sugar in an alpha 2-6 linkage to select receptors, which can alter their function. We show that ST6Gal-I protein is upregulated in ovarian and pancreatic cancers but not expressed in normal epithelial tissue from these organs. ST6Gal-I expression in ovarian cancer correlates with decreased progression-free and overall survival, and we present evidence that ST6Gal-I expression …

Mpa Graduates: The Role Of Public And Nonprofit Managers In Public Service, Jasmine Traneil Shaw

All ETDs from UAB

Public sector employment has been the saving grace for American households throughout the tests of time. Exploration into the stability of the workforce and its resulting impact on the economy is essential to determining whether the benefits of working in the public sector outweigh the costs. A sample of 435 MPA alumni were asked to complete a survey designed to evaluate their career as it relates to variables such as job securement, salary, family life, and career advancement. Survey results provided evidence that MPA graduates find jobs in a reasonable amount of time and their salary allows their lifestyle to …

A Randomized Trial Evaluating Child Dog-Bite Prevention In Rural China Through Video-Based Testimonials, Jiabin Shen

All ETDs from UAB

Dog-bite injuries pose a significant threat to children around the world. School-aged children are especially at risk of injuries because of their cognitively immature tendency toward poor perception of vulnerability regarding risky behaviors. This risk is elevated further for millions of school-aged children living in rural China due to the large number of stray dogs, all potential rabies carriers. Effective intervention programs for pediatric dog-bite injuries are sparse. Most existing programs were based on public health concerns and only involve the impartment of safety knowledge to children. They produced mixed results in changing actual behaviors with dogs. Based on the …

Developing A Rating Model Using Social Media Data, Suman Silwal

All ETDs from UAB

Social Media (SM) is becoming a normal part of everyday life for many people around the world. This new form of communication has helped to close social gaps and bring the world closer. The information generated from Social Networking Sites (SNS) is increasingly utilized as a communication channel for market trend, brand awareness, breaking news, person-to-person online social interaction, etc. As more and more people are using SNS, their reach and power are growing rapidly in daily life. Massive amounts of daily data generated from SNS can be used in many interdisciplinary areas of research such as the Humanities, Art, …

The Adhd Medication Process Model: A Qualitative Investigation Of Teaching Pedagogies, Ideal Student Behavior, Labeling Processes, And Attitudes Towards Adhd Medication., Zachary Robert Simoni

All ETDs from UAB

The number of children diagnosed with and medicated for ADHD has increased within the last decades. In this study, I assert that ADHD is a serious mental health issue with a biological etiology which in many cases is alleviated by the use of medication. However, I also argue that powerful socio-cultural forces are important to understanding ADHD and medication use in the American Educational system. Physicians and psychiatrists are responsible for assigning medication as a treatment for ADHD. Nevertheless, teachers are at the front lines of the ADHD issue and handle it on a daily basis. Despite this fact, very …

An Examination Of Farm-To-Consumer Retail Outlet Usage Among Participants Of The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants, And Children (Wic) In Birmingham, Al, Chelsea Renee Singleton

All ETDs from UAB

Disparities in the neighborhood retail food environment have been hypothesized to be associated with poor diet quality and adverse health outcomes such as obesity. Studies have found that lower income communities often have reduced access to affordable healthy foods. In 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proposed direct farm-to-consumer (FTC) retail outlets (i.e. farmers markets, farm/roadside stands, community gardens and community supported agriculture programs) as a potential strategy to alleviate retail food environment disparities in communities with limited resources. Information on the behavioral and health implications of FTC outlet usage by lower income individuals is limited. This research …

Exploiting The Glioblastoma Tumor Microenvironment For Enhanced Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus Therapy, Tyrel Talbert Smith

All ETDs from UAB

Gliomas are the most common and fatal malignancy of the adult central nervous system. The need for new therapeutic options is clear, as standard of care therapies only extend median survival 12-14 months beyond diagnosis. Conditionally replication-competent oncolytic herpes simplex type-1 viruses (oHSV) have emerged as promising therapeutics for treating malignant gliomas. However, two factors that contribute to the dismal prognosis of malignant gliomas, immunosuppression and invasive growth, are also thought to limit virotherapeutic efficacy. We examined these factors in tumor microenvironments to explore novel strategies to treat malignant gliomas with oHSV for improved therapeutic response. In a Phase 1b …

An Exploration Of The Impact Of Ptsd Following Childbirth And The Suitability Of Writing Therapy As A Therapeutic Tool, Susanne Peeler

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Background: Postnatal PTSD affects between 1 and 6% of women, whereas 30% are partially symptomatic. The mental health of new mothers is of public health concern as it could affect the marital relationship and the behavioural and emotional health of children. Little research has explored emotional regulation difficulties as predictors for postnatal PTSD. Treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) have long waiting list times and may be hard to access for new mothers. Aim: The relationship between key predictors especially those associated with emotional regulation and PTSD in postnatal women was investigated. The feasibility of using internet based writing …

The Next Generation Of Action Ecology: Novel Approaches Towards Global Ecological Research, R. L. White, A. E. Sutton, R. Salguero-Gómez, T. C. Bray, H. Campbell, E. Cieraad, N. Geekiyanage, L. Gherardi, A. C. Hughes, P. Søgaard Jørgensen, T. Poisot, Lucía Desoto, Naupaka B. Zimmerman

Biology Faculty Publications

Advances in the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge over the last decade have dramatically reshaped the way that ecological research is conducted. The advent of large, technology-based resources such as iNaturalist, Genbank, or the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) allow ecologists to work at spatio-temporal scales previously unimaginable. This has generated a new approach in ecological research: one that relies on large datasets and rapid synthesis for theory testing and development, and findings that provide specific recommendations to policymakers and managers. This new approach has been termed action ecology, and here we aim to expand on earlier definitions to …

Ecology Postdocs In Academia: Primary Concerns And Possible Solutions, A. K. Shaw, D. E. Stanton, S. R. Supp, A. Budden, S. Eby, P. L. Reynolds, R. Salguero-Gómez, D. R. Scholes, Naupaka B. Zimmerman

Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Connecting People And Ideas From Around The World: Global Innovation Platforms For Next-Generation Ecology And Beyond, P. Søgaard Jørgensen, F. Barraquand, V. Bonhomme, T. J. Curran, E. Cieraad, T. G. Ezard, L. Gherardi, R. A. Hayes, T. Poisot, R. Salguero-Gómez, Lucía Desoto, B. Swartz, J. M. Talbot, B. Wee, Naupaka B. Zimmerman

Biology Faculty Publications

We present a case for using Global Community Innovation Platforms (GCIPs), an approach to improve innovation and knowledge exchange in international scientific communities through a common and open online infrastructure. We highlight the value of GCIPs by focusing on recent efforts targeting the ecological sciences, where GCIPs are of high relevance given the urgent need for interdisciplinary, geographical, and cross-sector collaboration to cope with growing challenges to the environment as well as the scientific community itself. Amidst the emergence of new international institutions, organizations, and meetings, GCIPs provide a stable international infrastructure for rapid and long-term coordination that can be …

The Tao Of Open Science For Ecology, S. E. Hampton, S. S. Anderson, S. C. Bagby, C. Gries, X. Han, E. M. Hart, M. B. Jones, W. C. Lenhardt, A. Macdonald, W. K. Michener, J. Mudge, A. Pourmokhtarian, M. P. Schildhauer, K. H. Woo, Naupaka B. Zimmerman

Biology Faculty Publications

The field of ecology is poised to take advantage of emerging technologies that facilitate the gathering, analyzing, and sharing of data, methods, and results. The concept of transparency at all stages of the research process, coupled with free and open access to data, code, and papers, constitutes “open science.” Despite the many benefits of an open approach to science, a number of barriers to entry exist that may prevent researchers from embracing openness in their own work. Here we describe several key shifts in mindset that underpin the transition to more open science. These shifts in mindset include thinking about …