Digital Commons Network^™

Implementing Lasting Change: Hr In The Social Service Sector, Fermin Diez, Run Qian Ng

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The Human Resources (HR) practices in any organisation can make a big difference in its ability to implement the strategic plan (Thomas, Smith & Diez, 2013). This assertion points towards an additional question: Can a whole sector of the economy increase its overall capability and capacity by improving the overall HR abilities of the organisations in the sector? The Social Service Sector in Singapore has been undergoing just such a sector-wide transformation over the past 6 years, and provides a great opportunity to analyse empirically whether a systemic approach to improve the overall HR practices of the Social Service Agencies …

Public Relations Education In Singapore: Educating The Next Generation Of Practitioners On Ethics, Eugene Yong Sheng Woon, Augustine Pang

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This study examines if PR education adequately prepares students for the workplace, particularly in the practice of ethics in the context of Singapore, which has been described as one of “Asia’s economic tigers” (BBC, 2018). This study, thus, aims to first, elucidate the state of PR education specifically in relation to how PR ethics is taught in Singapore. Second, it examines how ethics education prepares students for the workplace in Singapore. Data comes from examining the syllabi of 14 universities in Singapore, both local and international, and interviews with 20 academics and practitioners. Findings suggest there are varying degrees in …

Global Risk Of Invasion By Bactrocera Zonata: Implications On Horticultural Crop Production Under Changing Climatic Conditions, Kumbirai M. Zingore, George Sithole, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman, Samira A. Mohamed, Sunday Ekesi, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Mohammed E.E. Mahmoud

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The peach fruit fly Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is an important invasive species causing substantial losses to the horticulture industry worldwide. Despite the severe economic impact caused by this pest in its native and invaded range, information on its potential range expansion under changing climate remains largely unknown. In this study, we employed maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling approach to predict the global potential climatic suitability of B. zonata under current climate and four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) for the year 2050. Outputs from MaxEnt were merged with Spatial Production Allocation Model. A natural dispersal model using Gaussian dispersal kernel …

Author Correction: Pesticide Pollution In Freshwater Paves The Way For Schistosomiasis Transmission (Scientific Reports, (2020), 10, 1, (3650), 10.1038/S41598-020-60654-7), Jeremias M. Becker, Akbar A. Ganatra, Faith Kandie, Lina Mühlbauer, Jörg Ahlheim, Werner Brack, Baldwyn Torto, Eric L. Agola, Francis Mcodimba, Henner Hollert, Ulrike Fillinger, Matthias Liess

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Pesticide Pollution In Freshwater Paves The Way For Schistosomiasis Transmission, Jeremias M. Becker, Akbar A. Ganatra, Faith Kandie, Lina Mühlbauer, Jörg Ahlheim, Werner Brack, Baldwyn Torto, Eric L. Agola, Francis Mcodimba, Henner Hollert, Ulrike Fillinger, Matthias Liess

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Schistosomiasis is a severe neglected tropical disease caused by trematodes and transmitted by freshwater snails. Snails are known to be highly tolerant to agricultural pesticides. However, little attention has been paid to the ecological consequences of pesticide pollution in areas endemic for schistosomiasis, where people live in close contact with non-sanitized freshwaters. In complementary laboratory and field studies on Kenyan inland areas along Lake Victoria, we show that pesticide pollution is a major driver in increasing the occurrence of host snails and thus the risk of schistosomiasis transmission. In the laboratory, snails showed higher insecticide tolerance to commonly found pesticides …

Genome Wide Association Analysis Of A Stemborer Egg Induced “Call-For-Help” Defence Trait In Maize, Amanuel Tamiru, Rajneesh Paliwal, Samuel J. Manthi, Damaris A. Odeny, Charles A.O. Midega, Zeyaur R. Khan, John A. Pickett, Toby J.A. Bruce

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Tritrophic interactions allow plants to recruit natural enemies for protection against herbivory. Here we investigated genetic variability in induced responses to stemborer egg-laying in maize Zea mays (L.) (Poaceae). We conducted a genome wide association study (GWAS) of 146 maize genotypes comprising of landraces, inbred lines and commercial hybrids. Plants were phenotyped in bioassays measuring parasitic wasp Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) attraction to volatiles collected from plants exposed to stemborer Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) eggs. Genotyping-by-sequencing was used to generate maize germplasm SNP data for GWAS. The egg-induced parasitoid attraction trait was more common in landraces than in …

Genetic And Mirna Transcriptomic Analysis Of Autoregulation Of Nodulation Signaling In Medicago Truncatula, Diptee Chauligain

All Dissertations

Legumes can source nitrogen from the air through biological nitrogen fixation inside root nodules formed in a symbiosis with rhizobia. A complex root-to-shoot-to-root signaling pathway called Autoregulation of Nodulation (AON) controls the number of nodules formed depending on the plant’s nitrogen requirements. In Medicago truncatula, the MtSUNN receptor complex in the shoot binds to the root-generated AON signals, peptides called MtCLEs, resulting in downregulation of miR2111 expression in the shoot, with the effect of decreased transport of miR2111 to the roots. Decreased miR2111 levels in the roots then cause an increase in transcript levels of the miR2111 targets MtTML1 …

Investigating The Presence Of Culture In Engineering Design: A Case Study On Culture In Design Methods, Perception, And Outcomes, Malena Ataa Durowaah Agyemang

All Dissertations

Overwhelming global statistics on economic, social, and health disparities has driven engineers and designers to develop solutions to minimize these disparities [1,2,11,12,3–10]. For the scope of this study, these efforts are referred to as design for humanitarian engineering and global development (HEGD). HEGD solutions are designed to improve access to medical technologies, energy, clean water, and even spark economic development [1–10]. However, many HEGD solutions go unadopted, halting their intended benefits [9,13,22,23,14–21]. Efforts to improve HEGD adoption have focused on ways to incorporate culture in the design solution’s aesthetics or in approaches post-deployment [24,25,34,35,26–33]. However, a review of failed HEGD …

Understanding Corrosion In Modular Acetabular Tapers: Retrieval Analysis, In Vitro Testing And Cell-Material Interactions, Aarti Shenoy

All Dissertations

Modular metal-on-metal acetabular tapers comprise two overarching design categories: a titanium shell and a metal/ceramic/polymer liner pair, or a dual-mobility articulation design with an added polymeric insert containing a freely rotating femoral head. Both designs often include a metal-on-metal (MoM) or modular dual-mobility (MDM) shell-liner interfaces, which is prone to corrosion and associated local effects. The goals of this dissertation were to document and distinguish between corrosion modes at this modular junction, to design in vitro test methods to characterize mechanical modes, and to examine their interactions with macrophages, which represent a critical part of the immune response. Through retrieval …

Investigating The Extent Of The Problem: Injury Epidemiology In Cross-Country And Track & Field, Christopher Lee Hopkins

All Dissertations

This dissertation aims to explore the problem of injuries in high school and collegiate cross-country and track and field by systematically reviewing and analyzing data from previous epidemiologic studies, comparing injury rates from a large dataset of collegiate track and field injuries, examining the psychology of injury reporting among adolescent runners, and identifying directions for future research in the field of sports injury epidemiology. Cross-country and track and field are popular modes of physical activity for many adolescents, but as with many sports, they have inherent injury risks that may lead participants to quit or increase their risk of conditions …

Comparison Of Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma Type 1 And Type 2: A Secondary Data Analysis Using The Cancer Genome Atlas, Melissa Paquin

All Dissertations

The first chapter in this manuscript serves as an overview of the background, significance, and theological framework of this study, comparison of papillary renal cell carcinoma type 1 and type 2: a secondary analysis. The body of this work focuses on the topics of the current knowledge, genetic variations and syndromes, demographics, increased risk factors, and pathways associated with type 1 and type 2 papillary renal cell carcinoma.

The second chapter is a review of the literature to discuss the current working knowledge on papillary renal cell carcinoma including genetic underpinnings, disease management and histological subtyping. This chapter was designed …

Women Student Veteran’S Help-Seeking Behaviors With Faculty, Outside The Classroom: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study, Jessica Rose Pelfrey

All Dissertations

As of February 2020, women made up approximately ten percent of the overall veteran population in the United States (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2020, February). The National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics anticipated an increase in the number of women veterans to the tune of 18 percent each year, through 2027 (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2017, February). Interestingly, while the overall veteran population has decreased in recent years, the number of women veterans has simultaneously increased (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2017, February).

Nonetheless, institutions of higher education have seen an influx in student veteran enrollments (U.S. …

Statistical Models For The Analysis Of Complex Data, Stefani Mokalled

All Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on developing statistical models to analyze complex data. The motivating applications in this work include infectious disease screening, engineering, and public health problems. Chapters 2 and 3 take a frequentist approach to modeling and parameter estimation while Chapters 4 and 5 proceed with Bayesian methods. Maximum likelihood estimation is implemented in a case of missing data through latent variables (Chapter 2) as well as by embedding a finite element model within the likelihood framework (Chapter 3). Two Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms are applied to estimate parameters and fit regression models using data obtained from a …

Ultrafast Laser Pulse Interaction With Dielectric Materials: Numerical And Experimental Investigations On Ablation And Micromachining, Xiao Jia

All Dissertations

Ultrafast lasers have great capability and flexibility in micromachining of various materials. Due to the involved complicated multi-physical processes, mechanisms during laser-material interaction have not been fully understood. To improve and explore ultrafast laser processing and treatment of dielectric materials, numerical and experimental investigations have been devoted to better understanding the underlying fundamental physics during laser-material interaction and material micromachining. A combined continuum-atomistic model has been developed to investigate thermal and non-thermal (photomechanical) responses of materials to ultrafast laser pulse irradiation. Coexistence of phase explosion and spallation can be observed for a considerably wide range of laser fluences. Phase explosion …

Simulated And Applied Precision Feeding System Of High And Low Forage Diets With Different Fat Sources And Sequences Of Dietary Fat Concentration In In-Vitro And In-Vivo Studies, Saad Ali M. Hussein

All Dissertations

Controlling dry matter intake (DMI) is one strategy to meet the animal’s requirements while reducing feed costs and increasing feed efficiency. Controlling intake through precision-feeding provides a more nutrient-dense diet, allowing an increase in energy and nutrient utilization efficiency while decreasing nutrient loss. The literature about precision feeding has provided information regarding optimal N intake and different dietary fiber proportions, but more information needs to be addressed. This is one of the first attempts to further our knowledge through the use of fat inclusion. In the present dissertation, a total of 4 in-vitro and in-vivo experiments were conducted. Simulated and …

Internal Migration, Social Capital And Subjective Wellbeing In Albania: The Case Of Kamza Town, Merita Hysen Mece

All Dissertations

This study assessed the relationship between internal migration, various types of social capital (i.e., trust, solidarity, bonding social ties, and bridging social ties) and subjective wellbeing (life satisfaction and happiness) among a sample of 468 first-generation adult internal migrants and locals aged 18-75 years in Kamza town in Albania. Social capital and subjective wellbeing are two terms frequently used in the literature to describe people’s connections and to evaluate their life in various contexts including migration. Although these concepts are featured in academic literature, research, and global policy agendas, they are under-studied and rarely examined in the context of internal …

Mount Carmel Area Community Center: Plan Of Action, Drew Delaney, Lucy Donovan, Jennifer Greenhalgh, Ruby Lee, Sam Pansky, Elizabeth Stack

Coal Region Field Station Student Projects

The purpose of this document is to provide a comprehensive Plan of Action for the Mount Carmel Area Community Center Board of Directors. This plan is designed as a strategic plan, grant application, and general information manual hybrid for the Center. As the Board finalizes the closing on the Phillips Mansion, the new Center’s home, it will be necessary for MCACC to take action in four major areas: building facilities, grant and funding opportunities, creation of partnerships, and potential programming.

Also attached is a copy of the powerpoint slides from a presentation made to MCACC in December 2020 outlining key …

Overcoming The Systemic Challenges Of Wealth Inequality In The U.S., David Peter Stroh

The Foundation Review

The galvanizing public murder of George Floyd and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black and Hispanic people have put structural racism and its influence on wealth inequality in the U.S. into stark relief. As multiracial groups express outrage at these visible disparities, we risk missing the other side of the coin: that wealth inequality in turn fans structural racism. Moreover, as they reinforce each other, these two factors erode the social, economic, and political viability of our democracy. Understanding and then breaking this vicious cycle are essential to realizing our renewed commitment to a country that works everyone.

This …

At Your Service: Nonprofit Infrastructure Organizations And Covid-19, Christopher R. Prentice, Jeffrey L. Brudney, Richard M. Clerkin, Patrick C. Brien

The Foundation Review

This article examines the role played by nonprofit infrastructure organizations in assisting service-delivery nonprofits as they confronted the COVID-19 crisis. These organizations are differentiated by their service focus, but are united by a common mission to offer support to other nonprofits.

The service areas of nonprofit infrastructure organizations can be divided into three categories: those that support the nonprofit sector as a whole, those that assist nonprofit organizations and their staffs, and those that devote their resources to the communities or region they serve. For this article, leaders from these three types of organizations were asked to share their responses …

Regional Inclusive Growth Through Systems Philanthropy In Essex County, Massachusetts, Lisa Payne Simon, Stratton Lloyd, Beth Francis

The Foundation Review

In 2016, the Essex County Community Foundation forged a cross-sector coalition of business, community, and civic leaders to identify the Massachusetts region’s greatest challenges and to develop a strategy for action. Income inequality was identified as the county’s most pressing issue, and the foundation and its partners launched a systems philanthropy strategy to address that issue and stimulate inclusive growth.

The strategy involves a multipronged approach aimed at amplifying the county’s strengths, launching inclusive-growth initiatives, expanding workforce training and skill development to increase a broad target population’s earning potential and net worth, incentivizing and supporting small-business resiliency and growth, and …

Measuring The Effectiveness Of Equitable Economic Development Strategies, Amy Minzner

The Foundation Review

There is anecdotal evidence that equitable economic development activities can foster inclusive growth and unlock the full potential of local economies by dismantling barriers and expanding opportunities for low-income people and communities of color. These strategies are being used with increasing frequency, and advocates and funders are pressing for their use throughout the country. Because of this, there is a need to better understand the link between equitable economic development activities and their ability to foster equitable opportunities and resulting impacts.

Establishing this link will require a new measurement strategy because traditional measures of economic development effectiveness focus on communitywide …

Executive Summaries

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

Editorial, Juan Olivarez

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

Full Issue

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

What Does It Take? Reflections On Foundation Practice In Building Healthy Communities, 2010–2020, Prudence Brown, Tom David, Anand Sharma

The Foundation Review

Foundation practice — how a foundation goes about its work — plays a significant role in determining the results of the work, particularly for foundations that take on roles that position them as part of the action rather than solely as sources of funds.

This article aims to build upon the lessons from past place-based work by examining the practices of The California Endowment as it designed and implemented Building Healthy Communities, a 10-year initiative to promote health equity. The initiative combined intensive investment in 14 historically disinvested communities with sophisticated state- and regional-level policy campaigns and coalition-building strategies to …

Can Civil Society Be Inclusive? Strategies For Endowed Foundations, Irene M. H. Davids, Lucas C. P. M. Meijs

The Foundation Review

Literature on inclusion and exclusion within civil society distinguishes two broad approaches: the managerial, based on the private sphere, and the democratic, based upon the public sphere. Regardless of the approach, however, the influence of cultural distance or proximity between endowed foundations and grassroots associations has remained understudied. This research aims to address this gap.

This article shares results of a quantitative comparison of the patterns of funding awarded by a regional endowed foundation in the Netherlands to immigrant grassroots associations and to other grassroots organizations. The results reveal differences in funding despite the foundation’s inclusive strategy. An exploration of …

Back Matter

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

Multi-Compartment Chemical Characterization And Risk Assessment Of Chemicals Of Emerging Concern In Freshwater Systems Of Western Kenya, Faith Jebiwot Kandie, Martin Krauss, Riccardo Massei, Akbar Ganatra, Ulrike Fillinger, Jeremias Becker, Matthias Liess, Baldwyn Torto, Werner Brack

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Within the last decades, there has been increasing research on the occurrence of chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) in aquatic ecosystems due to their potential adverse effects on freshwater organisms and risk to human health. However, information on CECs in freshwater environments in sub-Saharan countries is very limited. Here, we investigated the occurrence of CECs in snails and sediments collected from 48 sites within the Lake Victoria South Basin, Kenya, which have been previously investigated for water contamination. Samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) with a target list of 429 compounds. Results: In …

Prediction Of Breeding Regions For The Desert Locust Schistocerca Gregaria In East Africa, Emily Kimathi, Henri E.Z. Tonnang, Sevgan Subramanian, Keith Cressman, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman, Mehari Tesfayohannes, Saliou Niassy, Baldwyn Torto, Thomas Dubois, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Menale Kassie, Sunday Ekesi, David Mwangi, Segenet Kelemu

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Desert locust outbreak in East Africa is threatening livelihoods, food security, environment, and economic development in the region. The current magnitude of the desert locust invasion in East Africa is unprecedented and has not been witnessed for more than 70 years. Identifying the potential breeding sites of the pest is essential to carry out cost-effective and timely preventive measures before it inflicts significant damage. We accessed 9,134 desert locust occurrence records and applied a machine-learning algorithm to predict potential desert locust breeding sites in East Africa using key bio-climatic (temperature and rainfall) and edaphic (sand and moisture contents) factors. Ten …

Diversity And Multiplicity Of P. Falciparum Infections Among Asymptomatic School Children In Mbita, Western Kenya, Abdoulie O. Touray, Victor A. Mobegi, Fred Wamunyokoli, Jeremy K. Herren

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Multiplicity of infection (MOI) and genetic diversity of P. falciparum infections are important surrogate indicators for assessing malaria transmission intensity in different regions of endemicity. Determination of MOI and diversity of P. falciparum among asymptomatic carriers will enhance our understanding of parasite biology and transmission to mosquito vectors. This study examined the MOI and genetic diversity of P. falciparum parasite populations circulating in Mbita, a region characterized as one of the malaria hotspots in Kenya. The genetic diversity and multiplicity of P. falciparum infections in 95 asymptomatic school children (age 5–15 yrs.) residing in Mbita, western Kenya were assessed using …