Digital Commons Network^™

When Contraceptive Means No Pregnancy: Narrative Account Of Contraceptive Use Among Reproductive Women At The Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana, Akosua Bonsu Karikari, Nana Afia Karikari, Akua Afriyie Karikari, Amos Apraku

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Contraception is a major intervention in improving maternal health. There are about 214 million women of reproductive age in developing countries who are not using modern contraception to prevent pregnancy. For proper locale-specific analysis of female reproductive health issues in Ghana, it is vital to explore the knowledge base and hindrances to contraception use in local communities. We used a phenomenological design to study reproductive- aged women in the Tamale Metropolis of the Northern Region of Ghana in order to comprehend the life world of study participants. This research demonstrates that the majority of the women in the study area …

Examining The Early Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Black/African American Adults, Laurie Blackman, Kathryn S. Krase, Donna Wang, Anthony C. Hill, Megan Cambridge

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed a disproportionate risk of the disease in communities of color. The present study explored the impact of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-reported adaptation and coping, compared by the race of the respondent. Results from an anonymous, cross-sectional, online survey administered in June 2020 found that Black/African American adult respondents were less likely than non- Black/African American adult respondents to agree that they felt prepared for the COVID-19 outbreak; they were more likely than non- Black/African American adults to agree that they were personally affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, and more likely to …

The Myth Of Programmatic Intervention To Tackle Intergenerational Poverty In Post-Industrial Societies: A Longitudinal Study In Hong Kong As A Vantage Point, Wing Chung Ho

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Through tracking the educational and career trajectories of the young adult members (aged 24–26) of 154 families over 13–15 years, this study suggests that the problem of intergenerational poverty is serious in Hong Kong. Quantitative data indicates that adolescents with poor parents have a 104 percent higher chance of being poor in young adulthood, and nearly 60 percent (58.4%) of the samples follow “the-poor-begets-the-poor; therich- begets-the-rich” pattern across generations. However, the explanatory power of the logistic regression models consisting of confounding factors are weak (R2=0.15). Subsequent focus group discussions with 30 mothers from the samples point to myriad forms of …

The Magnetic Pull Of American Discovery: Second Thoughts About American Exceptionalism?, Richard L. Marcus

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Vaccination Mandates—An Old Public Health Tool Faces New Challenges, Dorit Rubenstein Reiss, Lawrence O. Gostin, Michelle M. Mello

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Misinformation And Covid-19, Dorit Rubenstein Reiss

Faculty Scholarship

The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on our world cannot be overstated. One of its noticeable features was the prominence of misinformation generally, and anti-vaccine misinformation more specifically. This article provides a breakdown of the five major themes of antivaccine misinformation and the way they were used to create fear, uncertainty, and doubt about COVID- 19 vaccines. Long before the pandemic, anti-vaccine activists argued using a five-part playbook. They argued that (1) vaccine preventable diseases were not really dangerous, (2) vaccines were dangerous and ineffective, (3) there were alternative treatments that were better than (dangerous and ineffective) vaccines, (4) there was a …

The Uncertain Future Of Restorative Justice: Anti-Woke Legislation, Retrenchment And Politics Of The Right, Thalia Gonzalez, Mara Schiff

Faculty Scholarship

As diverse forms of anti-democratic and anti-inclusionary politics escalate in the United States, public education is increasingly a site for retrenchment and contestation with targeted efforts to silence and erase civil rights victories for equity and access. Addressing a critical, yet unattended issue at the intersection of education law and policy and civil rights, this Article joins with the growing discourse interrogating the “parental rights” movement and racially regressive legislation. Employing a case study analysis of social movement activism and education policy legislation from 2018–2023 in Florida, it aims to provoke critical praxis emanating from essential inquiry— what is the …

Rights Violations As Punishment, Kate Weisburd

Faculty Scholarship

Is punishment generally exempt from the Constitution? That is, can the deprivation of basic constitutional rights—such as the rights to marry, bear children, worship, consult a lawyer, and protest—be imposed as direct punishment for a crime and in lieu of prison, so long as such intrusions are not “cruel and unusual” under the Eighth Amendment? On one hand, such state intrusion on fundamental rights would seem unconstitutional. On the other hand, such intrusions are often less harsh than the restriction of rights inherent in prison. If a judge can sentence someone to life in prison, how can a judge not …

Designing For Circularity: Sustainable Pathways For Australian Fashion Small To Medium Enterprises, Lisa Westover Piller

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Australians consume twice the global average of textiles and are deeply engaged in a linear take/make/waste fashion model. Furthermore the Australian fashion sector has some unique supply chain complications of geographical distances, sparse population and fragmentation in processing and manufacturing. This research aims to examine how Australian fashion small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are overcoming these challenges to run fashion businesses built around core principles of product stewardship (PS) and circularity.

Design/methodology/approach: SMEs make up 88% of the Australian apparel manufacturing sector. This qualitative exploratory study included in-depth interviews with three Australian fashion SMEs engaged in circular design practice, …

January 2023 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

Characteristics Of Type 2 Diabetes In Female And Male Youth, Beatriz Castillo Rodriguez, Marcela Astudillo, Mustafa Tosur, Ahmad Rafaey, Siripoom Mckay, Fida Bacha, Ashok Balasubramanyam, Maria J Redondo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The incidence of type 2 diabetes in children is rising and carries a worse prognosis than in adults. The influence of sex on pediatric type 2 diabetes outcomes has not been well investigated. We studied 715 youth with type 2 diabetes diagnosed at a median age of 13.7 years and compared sex differences in demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics within the first year of diagnosis. Females diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were younger and at a higher stage of pubertal development than males, yet presented with lower A1Cs, a lower prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis, and higher HDL cholesterol levels.

Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Supplementation Supports Motor Coordination And Affects Myelination In Preterm Pigs, Line I Christiansen, Gemma C Ventura, Bo Holmqvist, Karoline Aasmul-Olsen, Sandy E H Lindholm, Matthew D Lycas, Yuki Mori, Jan Bojsen-Møller Secher, Douglas G Burrin, Thomas Thymann, Per T Sangild, Stanislava Pankratova

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Preterm infants have increased risk of impaired neurodevelopment to which reduced systemic levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in the weeks after birth may play a role. Hence, we hypothesized that postnatal IGF-1 supplementation would improve brain development in preterm pigs, used as a model for preterm infants.

METHODS: Preterm pigs delivered by cesarean section received recombinant human IGF-1/IGF binding protein-3 complex (rhIGF-1/rhIGFBP-3, 2.25 mg/kg/day) or vehicle from birth to postnatal day 19. Motor function and cognition were assessed by monitoring of in-cage and open field activities, balance beam test, gait parameters, novel object recognition and operant conditioning …

Gaps In Behavioral Health Care In Rural Primary Care Clinics And The Promise Of Vbhi: Perspectives From Clinic Staff, Monique Gill

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Australian Highlevel Public Policy Preparedness For Population-Based Triage During The Pandemic, Zachary Horn, Lily Gapp Duckett, Kaitlin Webber

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The COVID-19 pandemic brought attention to scarce clinical resource allocation via secondary population-based triage (S-PBT) throughout the international healthcare community. Experiences overseas highlighted the importance of coordinated and consistent approaches to allocating resources when facing overwhelming demand, particularly for critical care. Noting the importance of consistency and the system of devolved governance deployed in Australia, this study aimed to identify and analyse sources of high-level policy that affect Australia’s health system preparedness for the operationalisation of S-PBT. Of the 39 documents reviewed, 17 contained potential references to S-PBT. There was a lack of clear recommendations and guidance to inform S-PBT …

Development Of A Tool To Identify Barriers And Enablers To Practice Innovation In Midwifery: A Participatory Action Research Study, Sara D. Davis, Sara Bayes, Sadie Geraghty

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Transferring research evidence into midwifery practice is fraught with challenges and obstacles. Implementation tools can streamline the process and are most effective when they are discipline-specific; however, there are currently no midwifery specific implementation tools. The aim of this study was to develop a midwifery specific tool to identify barriers and enablers to evidence-informed practice change within the clinical setting. Methods: Participatory action research methodology was employed to ensure potential end-users contributed to content and format of the tool. Purposeful sampling ensured participants were selected from a range of midwifery practice settings in Western Australia and the United Kingdom. …

Discovery Of A Missense Mutation (Q222k) Of The Apoe Gene From The Australian Imaging, Biomarker And Lifestyle Study, Blaine R. Roberts, Scott B. Laffoon, Anne M. Roberts, Tenielle Porter, Chris Fowler, Colin L. Masters, Edward A. Dratz, Simon M. Laws

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

After age, polymorphisms of the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene are the biggest risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). During our investigation to discovery biomarkers in plasma, using 2D gel electrophoresis, we found an individual with and unusual apoE isoelectric point compared to APOE ϵ2, ϵ3, and ϵ4 carriers. Whole exome sequencing of APOE from the donor confirmed a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon 4, translating to a rare Q222K missense mutation. The apoE ϵ4 (Q222K) mutation did not form dimers or complexes observed for apoE ϵ2 ϵ3 proteins.

The Role Of Inclusive Leadership In Fostering Organisational Learning Behaviour, Mehran Nejati, Azadeh Shafaei

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Organisational learning is fundamental in establishing a fearless organisation, creating a competitive advantage and maintaining a sustained growth. While research suggests that leaders can influence organisational learning, there is currently no empirical evidence on how inclusive leadership fosters organisational learning behaviour. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between inclusive leadership and organisational learning behaviour. It also seeks to explore the mediating role of psychological safety and climate for initiatives in the mentioned relationship. Design/methodology/approach: The study used a two-wave quantitative examination with 317 respondents. Online survey was used to collect data from randomly selected …

Social Media And English Language Writing Performances Of A Ghanaian Esl Class: The Nexus, Ramos Asafo-Adjei, Ronald Osei Mensah, Ernest Kwesi Klu, Enock Swanzy-Impraim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The nexus among social media usage and the English language writing performances of a Ghanaian English as Second Language (ESL) class was investigated in this enquiry. The simple qualitative case study design was used, and the data was collected from a co-educational government secondary school Form 2 General Arts One class in Ghana. A focus group discussion (FGD) guide was employed to elicit the data, and the data were synthesised and analysed using the Data Analysis Spiral. It was evidenced that social media has adversely impacted the students’ English Language learning, as oblivious and non-standard contents have been smuggled into …

Rf Coverage Planning And Analysis With Adaptive Cell Sectorization In Millimeter Wave 5g Networks, Md Maruf Ahamed

Theses and Dissertations

The advancement of Fifth Generation Network (5G) technology is well underway, with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) globally commencing the deployment of 5G networks within the mid-frequency spectrum range (3GHz–6GHz). Nevertheless, the escalating demands for data traffic are compelling MNOs to explore the high-frequency spectrum (24GHz–100GHz), which offers significantly larger bandwidth (400MHz-800 MHz) compared to the mid-frequency spectrum (3GHz–6GHz), which typically provides 50MHz-100MHz of bandwidth. However, it is crucial to note that the higher-frequency spectrum imposes substantial challenges due to exceptionally high free space propagation loss, resulting in 5G cell site coverage being limited to several hundred meters, in contrast to …

The Effect Of Metacognition On Medical Laboratory Science Students' Perceived Feelings Of Self-Efficacy, Rebecca Simone Bakke

Theses and Dissertations

Medical laboratories across the United States have been experiencing a workforce shortage for the past several decades. While the causes of this shortage are numerous, one of the contributing factors is high turnover and attrition rates due to low workplace satisfaction. Research has shown that higher levels of self-efficacy lead to increased job satisfaction and performance outcomes. Therefore, increasing the self-efficacy of medical laboratory science (MLS) students as they prepare to transition into the workforce may help address the labor shortage.To explore a potential exercise to increase self-efficacy among MLS students, a metacognitive learning strategy—reflective journaling—was implemented during the final …

A Case Study On Implementation And Teacher Perceptions Of A Systematic Multi-Tiered System Of Support (Mtss) Model Within A Suburban Midwestern School District, Christine Breen

Theses and Dissertations

Disproportionate representation of African American students in Federal Setting III special education programming as well as disproportionate disciplinary removals of this same population were in part the catalyst for the Suburban Midwestern School District to implement a systematic Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework district wide to ensure the district was meeting the needs of all learners. The researcher utilized the Suburban Midwestern School District as a case study to investigate how systematic and consistent implementation of a MTSS can reduce disproportionate identification, evaluation, and representation of subgroups within special education and simultaneously studied the perceptions of staff implementing the …

Transforming Educational Landscapes: How Student Choice Influences Achievement, Engagement, And Instructional Objectives, Alissa Kaye Carter

Theses and Dissertations

This case study addresses how to invigorate student motivation and engagement, which suffered a serious decline after an extended period of remote learning due to COVID-19. Conventional teaching methods have demonstrated shortcomings in meeting these challenges, so this research highlights the potential efficacy of student choice in reshaping educational dynamics and improving scholastic achievement. Utilizing a case study research approach, this investigation was conducted in an International Baccalaureate (IB) private school in Munich, Germany. Data was aggregated from a sample of 89 students, aged 12 to 14 years, from four Grade 7 humanities classes.Student choice was introduced to the curriculum …

Preparing Special Educators And Team Members To Support Students With Severe Behaviors In Schools, Tamara Ann Hoffer

Theses and Dissertations

The critical nationwide teacher shortage (Billingsley et al., 2019), puts increasing pressure on educator preparation programs to train candidates in less time. Special education personnel are more likely to leave the field when they feel inadequately prepared for service (Mason-Williams et al., 2020), and are less likely to leave the field when they feel connected with schools that promote inclusion, multi-disciplinary teaming, and collective responsibility for all students (Billingsley et al., 2019). Educators perceive their training inadequate for supporting children who demonstrate disruptive and destructive behaviors in the classroom (Mason-Williams et al., 2020). Despite significant research for evidence-based methods for …

Application Of Blockchain Technology And Integration Of Differential Privacy: Issues In E-Health Domains, David Isie

Theses and Dissertations

A systematic and comprehensive review of critical applications of Blockchain Technology with Differential Privacy integration lies within privacy and security enhancement. This paper aims to highlight the research issues in the e-Health domain (e.g., EMR) and to review the current research directions in Differential Privacy integration with Blockchain Technology.Firstly, the current state of concerns in the e-Health domain are identified as follows: (a) healthcare information poses a high level of security and privacy concerns due to its sensitivity; (b) due to vulnerabilities surrounding the healthcare system, a data breach is common and poses a risk for attack by an adversary; …

The Effects Of Covid-19 On School Attendance: Examining Explanations For Chronically Absent Students, Samantha Kaloustian

Theses and Dissertations

Kindergarten through 12th grade school administrators and educators are tasked with the challenge of ensuring every student is consistently attending school. Balfanz and Byrnes (2012) and Henderson et al. (2014) stated that either students cannot attend school because of multiple factors, students will not attend, or students do not attend because of a lack of value in education. Then, in 2020, the school attendance challenge was heightened with educating students during a worldwide pandemic. During this time, school environments varied from 100% virtual learning to hybrid learning—meaning they had both virtual and face-to-face instruction—to 100% face-to-face instruction. After knowing how …

Obtaining The Transfer Function Of A Camera Mount Using Ansys And Matlab, Ikechukwu Stanley Nwade

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, the transfer function of a camera mount is obtained using ANSYS and MATLAB. In a heads-up display (HUD) application, achieving precise image registration requires careful consideration of the camera's position relative to the vehicle. Vibrations can alter the camera's position, with tilt being the most impactful due to its increased displacement effect as objects are further away. This research tackles vibration by predicting the position of the camera using transfer function. To determine the transfer function for complex structures, such as camera mounts, this study aims to first establish a transfer function for a simpler model, like …

An Exploration Of The Meaning Of The Phenomenon Of Hope, In The Context Of Hopelessness, For Rural Frontline Registered Nurses In South Dakota, North Dakota, And Minnesota During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Stephanie Jean Orth

Theses and Dissertations

Background & Purpose: This study’s purpose was to understand what the phenomenon of hope meant to rural critical access hospital RNs in three Midwest states, and what gave them hope during the COVID-19 pandemic. The full scope of the pandemic on the rural nursing workforce is unknown. Prior research has shown that hope can be a positive tool for sustaining psychological well-being, setting and achieving goals, and can facilitate coping (Collins, Bhathal, Field, Larlee, Paje, & Young, 2018; Hacimusalar, Kahve, & Aydin, 2020; Persell, 2016; Snyder, 1995). Methods: Ten participants were interviewed using a semi-structured, interpretive hermeneutic phenomenological approach. van …

Estimation Of Idle Time Using Machine Learning Models For Vehicle-To-Grid (V2g) Integration And Services, Prashanth Rajagopalan

Theses and Dissertations

As the Electric Vehicles (EVs) market continues to expand, ensuring the access to charging stations remains a significant concern. This work focuses on addressing multiple challenges related to EV charging behavior and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) services. Firstly, it focuses on accurate minute-ahead (20 minute \& 30 minute intervals) load forecasts for an EV charging station by using four years of historical data, from 2018-2021. This data is recorded from a university campus garage charging station. Machine Learning (ML) models such as Seasonal Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA), Random Forest (RF), and Neural Networks (NN) are employed for load forecasts in terms …

Anomaly Detection And Trajectory Prediction Models For Ads-B Datasets, Akshay Ram Ramchandra

Theses and Dissertations

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are critical for accurate navigation in aviation networks.GPS information could be subjected to several interferences due to challenging terrain, rural areas, high-rise buildings, and intentional or unintentional jamming, spoofing, or unknown causes. Recently, the frequency of GPS/Automatic Dependant Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)-related interferences in commercial airlines has increased. This thesis focuses on enhancing civil aviation safety using machine learning (ML) algorithms, particularly focusing on vulnerabilities in the ADS-B and its role in improving the National Air Space (NAS) surveillance and safety. Through scholarly article surveys, foundational issues in the ADS-B are identified. A study centered around a GPS …

Gay Or Nay? Gaydar Snap Judgement Accuracy Rates Among Queer And Straight Cis-Men, Alyssa Noelle Rowland

Theses and Dissertations

The validity of gaydar as a psychological construct has been evaluated in the LGBQIA2S+ literature with general agreement that an unclearly specified subset of the population has a better than chance probability of detecting the sexuality of others. The real-world implications of such a skill could be far-reaching. Gaydar could assist people identify and attract potential mates or life partners. It could also provide protection against the risks posed by making advances on an individual (e.g., a heterosexual man) who could react violently. The current study examined factors that impacted cis-male gaydar hit rates for queer and heterosexual targets in …