Digital Commons Network^™

Donald Griffin: A Visionary In Science And Consciousness, Brock Fenton

Animal Sentience

I share some reflections on a sabbatical with Donald Griffin a half-century ago, with fieldwork on bats and echolocating swiftlets in Australia and our discussions of animal behavior and consciousness. Griffin's influence has been vast, from recent advances in bat research, including learning, navigation, and longevity, to his enduring legacy as a pioneer in animal cognition.

Unravelling Large-Scale Patterns And Drivers Of Biodiversity In Dry Rivers, Arnaud Foulquier, Thibault Datry, Roland Corti, Daniel Von Schiller, Klement Tockner, Rachel Stubbington, Mark O. Gessner, Frederic Boyer, Marc Ohlmann, Wilfried Thuiller, Delphine Rioux, Christian Miquel, Ricardo Albarino, Daniel C. Allen, Florian Altermatt, Maria Isabel Arce, Shai Arnon, Damien Banas, Andy Banegas-Medina, Erin Beller, Melanie L. Blanchette, Joanna Blessing, Iola Goncalves Boechat, Kate Boersma, Michael Bogan, Nuria Bonada, Nick Bond, Katherine Brintrup, Andreas Bruder, Ryan Burrows, Tommaso Cancellario, Cristina Canhoto, Stephanie Carlson, Nuria Cid, Julien Cornut, Michael Danger, Bianca De Freitas Terra, Anna Maria De Girolamo, Ruben Del Campo, Veronica Diaz Villanueva, Fiona Dyer, Arturo Elosegi, Catherine Febria, Ricardo Figueroa Jara, Brian Four, Sarig Gafny, Rosa Gomez, Lluis Gomez-Gener, Simone Guareschi, Bjorn Gucker, Jason Hwan, J. Iwan Jones, Patrick S. Kubheka, Alex Laini, Simone Daniela Langhans, Bertrand Launay, Guillaume Le Goff, Catherine Leigh, Chelsea Little, Stefan Lorenz, Jonathan Marshall, Eduardo J. Martin Sanz, Angus Mcintosh, Clara Mendoza-Lera, Elisabeth I. Meyer, Marko Milisa, Musa C. Mlambo, Manuela Morias, Nabor Moya, Peter Negus, Dev Niyogi, Iluminada Pagan, Athina Papatheodoulou, Giuseppe Pappagallo, Isabel Pardo, Petr Paril, Steffen U. Pauls, Marek Polasek, Pablo Rodriguez-Lozano, Robert J. Rolls, Maria Mar Sanchez-Montoya, Ana Savic, Oleksandra Shumilova, Kandikere R. Sridhar, Alisha Steward, Amina Taleb, Avi Uzan, Yefrin Valladares, Ross Vander Vorste, Nathan J. Waltham, Dominik H. Zak, Annamaria Zoppini

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

More than half of the world’s rivers dry up periodically, but our understanding of the biological communities in dry riverbeds remains limited. Specifically, the roles of dispersal, environmental filtering and biotic interactions in driving biodiversity in dry rivers are poorly understood. Here, we conduct a large-scale coordinated survey of patterns and drivers of biodiversity in dry riverbeds. We focus on eight major taxa, including microorganisms, invertebrates and plants: Algae, Archaea, Bacteria, Fungi, Protozoa, Arthropods, Nematodes and Streptophyta. We use environmental DNA metabarcoding to assess biodiversity in dry sediments collected over a 1-year period from 84 non-perennial rivers across 19 countries …

Art Of Resistance: Reclamation Through Art, Christina Sifri

Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship

No abstract provided.

Using Improvement Science To Enhance Paraprofessional Development To Foster Supportive Classroom Environments And Impact Teacher Retention, Althea Hurt

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Recruiting, hiring, and retaining qualified teachers continues to be a problem in the United States and in many other countries, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Globally, many teachers express dissatisfaction with pay, but other factors – including dissatisfaction with the level of support received, stress brought on by the workload, and struggles with challenging student behavior – have also contributed to high teacher turnover rates. To support student learning outcomes, administrators and policymakers must be aware of, and address, why teachers are leaving.

This study used an improvement science approach to address the reasons why teachers left a suburban school …

Teacher Perceptions Of Students With Disabilities And Their Ability To Meaningfully Participate In An Inquiry-Based Mathematics Model, Lori Luthy

Dissertations

This study focused on a school district in the Midwest region of the United States, which implemented a new inquiry-based math curriculum for all kindergarten through fifth-grade students during the 2021-2022 school year. The purpose of this study was to determine elementary general education and special education teachers’ perceptions of students with disabilities and their ability to learn mathematics at high levels from inquiry-based instruction. Also, the implications of deficit thinking were investigated. In addition, end-of-the-year progress results were compared to determine if implementing an inquiry-based model of mathematics increased student achievement. The population for this study consisted of educators …

A Phenomenological Study Of Social-Emotional Learning (Sel) Through Covid-19, Maria Iracema Da Rocha-Alvarez

Dissertations

Purpose: This phenomenological study aimed to identify and describe the social-emotional learning (SEL) strategies used by elementary teachers in California before and during the shift to distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also sought to determine which SEL strategies were most effective in supporting students’ emotional well-being in a virtual learning environment.

Methodology: A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to explore the lived experiences of elementary teachers who implemented SEL strategies before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected through 20 interview questions aligned with the research objectives to gain insight into effective SEL practices during virtual …

Classroom To Console, Ashton Headley

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

In an era where technology is continuously growing and intertwined into daily life, the field of education has seen drastic changes and innovation. Including changes we see today, with the ability to connect to class online, procter tests, submit assignments etc. And amongst these innovations, educational games have surfaced as a resource for helping learners across various age groups. By merging entertainment/gamification with educational content, these games offer an interactive and entertaining approach to acquiring knowledge and learning essential or non-essential skills. Whether it is implemented in classrooms, workplaces, or home settings, educational games are transforming the educational environment effectively …

Urinformed December 2024, Urinformed

URInformed: The URI Employees' Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Prioritizing Learners’ Cultural Assets And Multimodal Literacies During Preservice Teachers’ Community Literacy Experience, Janine Bixler, Rebecca Norman

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

As teacher educators, we believe it is critical for preservice teachers (PSTs) to recognize the many cultural assets that learners bring to today’s diverse classrooms and to use these assets in their instruction. It is key to the literacy success of all students, particularly children of low socioeconomic status, multilingual learners, children of color, and children who continue to have limited literacy success in school. Our teacher preparation program in childhood includes out-of-school community literacy experiences for teaching diverse Grade 1–6 learners because these hybrid spaces provide rich opportunities for our candidates to learn about and with children and their …

Perceived Problem, Partnership, And Training Effect On Productivity And Export: Evidence From Micro And Small Manufacturing Firms In Indonesia, Rifai Afin

Economics and Finance in Indonesia

The primary objectives of this study are threefold: first, to investigate whether the challenges faced by micro and small industries motivate them to enter into partnerships; second, to assess the impact of partnerships on company productivity; and third, to explore the causal relationship between productivity and exports. We aim to determine whether productivity influences exports and vice versa or if a two-way relationship exists. The data used in this study consists of annual survey data from micro and small manufacturing companies, randomly collected by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in 2015, with a total sample of 58,290 observations. The methodologies …

From Codex To Code: Pedagogical Transformations In The Age Of Technological Innovation, James Hutson, W. Travis Mcmaken, Kathi Vosevich

Faculty Scholarship

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) is revolutionizing education, echoing historic shifts such as the emergence of the codex and the printing press. GAI automates complex tasks and personalizes learning to individual needs, enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration and bolstering critical thinking and ethical reasoning skills. Initiatives in new, innovative programming illustrate the benefits of embedding these generative technologies to foster cultural competence and innovative problem-solving. Research indicates that intelligent tools significantly enhance learner engagement and access to quality education, enriching learning environments. However, integrating these tools introduces challenges, including ethical dilemmas, academic integrity issues, and resource disparities. These challenges necessitate comprehensive policy development, …

Possible Implications Ofmergers And Acquisitions In The Healthcare Industry, Nicholas Aversano

Bridges: A Journal of Student Research

Beginning in 2020, the healthcare infrastructure returned to the forefront of the American people's consciousness. Questions about cost, access, and quality of care are being asked daily. Are consumers benefiting as large companies move in to or out of the healthcare industries (such as hospitals, doctors' offices, research firms, or pharmaceutical companies) through mergers and acquisitions? Would a monopoly in healthcare be beneficial or even advantageous for the average American? Do economies of scale exist in this industry? This paper explores and consolidates studies published to help answer questions regarding the impacts of healthcare mergers and acquisitions. In addition to …

Percussive Practices: Scholastic Programming Of Pageantry Indoor Percussion And Concert Percussion Ensembles, Robert A. Halpner

Graduate Thesis Collection

This thesis focuses on an evaluation of the spring practices of percussion programs in the greater Indianapolis area. This qualitative research study was designed to study and analyze the differences in programming of pageantry indoor percussion and concert percussion ensembles at the high school level. Specifically, this thesis focuses on the rationale and educational practices behind school percussion programming of either of these two ensemble types. This thesis attempts to answer the primary research question: what musical or educational philosophies guide the reasoning behind determining if a particular school participates in either concert percussion ensemble or pageantry indoor percussion during …

Pilots' Risk Perception Regarding Automation, Abigail Mileika

Honors Projects in Psychology

In aviation, each decision made, no matter how big or small, is a life-or-death decision. Small mistakes could lead to large miscalculations which end in less-than-ideal situations. This study was designed to research the impact that automation has on mainly in-flight scenarios and decisions to determine how pilots’ risk perceptions change depending on various circumstances. A survey was developed and distributed to licensed pilots, who rated their perceived risk of 8 scenarios. The scenarios were designed to follow four conditions which included first person vs. third person perspective as well as automation vs no automation involved in the scenario. Results …

The Need For Curriculum Reform: Msw Students' Understanding Of The Opioid Crisis, Kimberly Mcdaniel, Caroline Yu, Nirav Patel

MSW Capstone Conference

No abstract provided.

Exploring Gerotranscendence And End-Of-Life Choices: A Mixed-Methods Study On The Influence Of Health Literacy In Older Adults, Dyna C. Crease, Ashia Daniels

MSW Capstone Conference

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Safety Training On Employee's Perceptions Of Organizational Safety Culture, Brooke Reid-Graves

Dissertations

Workplace safety and well-being are vital for all workers, regardless of their profession (Young et al., 2022). Studies show that providing employees with training focused on recognizing hazards and implementing safety practices is essential for reducing occupational risks (Namian et al., 2020; Rose & Rae, 2017). Research underscores the importance of fostering a positive organizational safety culture for risk reduction (Berry et al., 2020; Downey, 2019). Understanding the impact of safety training on shaping an organization’s safety culture is key to promoting safe working environments (Mahjoub, 2013).

This study utilized the perspectives of high school staff regarding safety training and …

Draft Management Plan For The South Coast Scallop Managed Fishery, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

The Minister for Fisheries (Minister) intends to transition the South Coast Trawl Fishery (SCTF) to formal management by determining a management plan for the fishery in accordance with section 54(1) of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA).

Section 54(1) of FRMA provides for the Minister to determine by instrument in writing published in the Government Gazette, a management plan for a fishery. Not less than two months prior to determining a management plan, the Minister must, in accordance with section 64(2) of FRMA, prepare a draft of the plan and by notice in the Gazette, state their intent to …

The Contributions Of Motor Skill Proficiency To Cognitive And Social Development In Early Childhood, Catherine M. Capio, Norman B. Mendoza, Rachel A. Jones, Rich S.W. Masters, Kerry Lee

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

With limited evidence from intervention studies, causal relationships between motor competence and cognitive and social development have yet to be clearly established. In this research, we investigated whether a targeted training programme to improve fundamental movement skills (i.e., object control, locomotor) in young children would also lead to improvements in the cognitive (i.e., executive function) and social (i.e., socioemotional competence) domains. Using a two-arm group randomised intervention design, 185 children aged 36 to 60 months (mean 47.51, SD 8.11 months) were allocated to a motor skill intervention group or an active control group. The intervention was implemented over one school …

Writing In Philosophy: Pedagogy And Practice, Sarah K. Donovan, Renée Smith

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Even a cursory internet search of syllabi for philosophy courses shows that the tradition of assigning papers—five-page papers, ten-page papers, fifteen-page papers—is still thriving. Yet the schedule of topics, often listed on those same syllabi, very seldom reveals any course time devoted to teaching students how to write. Perhaps the assignments themselves reveal the process of writing papers, rubrics reveal the expectations, and feedback nudges students to improve their writing. But that kind of information is not transparent in many syllabi. Even if we suppose that philosophy faculty support the idea of Writing Across the Curriculum, in practice faculty across …

Ethics And Environmental Impact Of Video Games, Anushka Chokshi

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

As video games grow in popularity, concerns regarding their ethical and environmental implications are brought up. While once, topics like their impact on child development or harm to Earth might have been considered minor or irrelevant, these concerns are now voiced in numerous articles across the internet, amplifying the urgency to develop games in an ethical context before matters are blown out of proportion. For the purposes of exploring both past and present views, this work draws from older and newer sources surrounding many topics on the idea of game development in the video game industry. Essentially, video game development …

Generational Differences In Factors Affecting The Vitality Of The Profession, Kalynn Condrey

Bakerman Student Research Awards

Context: The attrition of athletic trainers remains a challenge to the profession. Generational conflicts have emerged in employment culture and may impact athletic trainer retention. Yet there are no studies on generational differences in athletic training. Objective: Examine the effect of generational differences on measures that have been linked to vitality of the profession. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Online (Qualtrics, Provo, UT). Participants: The survey was sent to 5,937 random individuals through the NATA, 5.8% responded. Most participants identified as Millennial, European American women working in the secondary setting. Main Outcome Measures: This survey consisted of demographic questions, the TIS-6, …

Perceived Patient-Centered Care In Marching Band Artists, A L. Merrill, Z K. Winkelmann, N A. Uriegas

Bakerman Student Research Awards

Objective: Approximately 27,000 college marching band (MB) artists in the United States could benefit from access to healthcare services and patient-centered clinicians. The purpose of this study was to explore HCPs MB artists have access to and their perceptions of patient-centered care (PCC). Methods: We used a cross-sectional web-based survey of MB artists (n=751, age=20±8 years). MB directors from 242 colleges were emailed a survey link to forward to MB artists. Participants indicated which HCPs they could access. Those who reported no access or unsure were prompted to describe what they would do if an injury or illness occurred. Participants …

K-12 Education And The Covid-19 Pandemic, Candice Beasley

Dissertations

This quantitative study aimed to explore how schoolwide closures during the COVID-19 pandemic affected student academic performance in selected Mississippi school districts and to examine the instructional strategies schools used during these closures. While there has been global research on the pros and cons of different teaching methods during and after the pandemic, specific data for Mississippi is still limited.

The researcher collected publicly available data from the Mississippi Department of Education. Student performance results from the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) for the years 2019 to 2021 were analyzed to see if academic performance changed due to the pandemic …

Critical Utopia And Symbiosis In The Works Of Octavia Butler, Samuel Burton

Graduate Theses and Capstone Projects (excluding DNP)

No abstract provided.

Neutrosophic Cox Proportional Hazards Model For Robust Variable Selection In Survival Analysis, Ibrahim Yasser, Aya A. Abd El-Khalek, A. A. Salama, Doaa A. Abdo

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

This paper introduces a novel approach for variable selection in survival analysis by integrating neutrosophic logic into the Cox Proportional Hazards (Cox PH) model to address the limitations of recent studies related to high dimensionality. Neutrosophic logic, is a mathematical framework that allows for uncertainty, indeterminacy, and inconsistency, and particularly well suited for handling the complexity and often-ambiguous nature of biological data. By incorporating neutrosophic sets into the Cox PH model, we aim to enhance model robustness, improve variable selection, and address the curse of dimensionality. We compare the performance of the neutrosophic-enhanced Cox PH model with traditional variable selection …

Caregiver Involvement In Pediatric Speech-Language Pathology, Kathryn Ticknor

Theses & Honors Papers

This study explores how caregivers and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) perceive caregiver involvement in pediatric speech therapy services. The research addresses how and when caregiver input is solicited, and to what extent the services children receive reflect caregivers’ expressed concerns and priorities. Using a two-phase survey design, caregivers and speech-language pathologists from private practices in Virginia provided quantitative responses on the importance, frequency, and effectiveness of collaboration. Overall, caregivers reported moderate levels of involvement (mean score: 3.88/5). Contrary to conventional wisdom, caregivers’ level of involvement was not directly correlated with their level of satisfaction, suggesting other factors, such as communication quality …

How The Russia & Ukraine War Is Contributing To Raw Materials Shortages In The Aerospace Industry, Ava Magness

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

The aerospace industry, a key driver of the global economy, generates annual revenues exceeding $750 billion and is projected to reach $1.38 trillion by 2030. A substantial portion of this revenue—approximately $300 billion—stems from raw materials, which are integral to the manufacturing of aerospace components. These materials, including titanium, aluminum alloys, palladium, and neon, are essential due to their unique properties, such as lightweight strength, heat resistance, and suitability for extreme conditions.

However, the industry's dependence on limited geopolitical suppliers has exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains. The Russo-Ukrainian War has significantly disrupted the availability of critical materials like titanium, …

Supply Chain Management Internship – J.B. Hunt Transportation Services, Inc., Kroopa Gandhi

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Transportation is all over the world as it is a part of our daily lives. It connects the supply chain from sourcing raw goods from suppliers to delivering finished products to stores. Whether by road, rail, air, or sea, transportation bridges the geographical gaps that separate markets and economies, ensuring the timely delivery of essential goods, and fostering economic growth and development. Since beginning of my fall semester of 2023, I had the opportunity to intern at J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. as an Intermodal Appointment Intern. My experience has deepened my appreciation for the complexities of the industry and …

The Relationship Between Task-Oriented Self-Efficacy, Openness To Experience And Internal & External Barriers To Social Work Educators To Teach Online Courses, Nancy Swindle

Dissertations

This study investigated the attitudes of social work faculty at accredited programs in the United States toward teaching online courses. An online survey was used to gather data on faculty members' internal and external barriers to teaching online, their openness to new experiences, and their confidence in creating and teaching online social work courses. Correlation and bivariate analyses were used to understand the relationships between these variables. The results showed positive relationships between years of teaching experience, faculty age, and self-efficacy scores, as well as between years of experience and professional training. However, these relationships were not statistically significant. Similar …