Digital Commons Network^™

Electrophysiological Investigation Of Active-Assisted Vs Recumbent Cycling: A Pilot Study In Healthy Older Adults, Vanessa Harwood, Nicole E. Logan, Alisa Baron, Skye Richards, Raphael Dias, Alex Seng, Emily Jelfs, Christine Marie Clarkin, Christie L. Ward-Ritacco

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

There is a relationship between acute bouts of aerobic exercise and cognition in adults, yet the exact nature of this relationship remains unclear. The current pilot study aims to investigate how different modes of cycling (active-assisted cycling vs recumbent cycling) at different moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) intensity levels (prescribed 65–70% Heart Rate Max and self-selected 12–13 Rate of Perceived Exertion) modulate neurocognitive, and behavioral markers of cognition in healthy older adults. A sample of 10 adults (aged 50–74 years) participated in baseline (no exercise), active-assisted, and recumbent cycling interventions at different intensity levels. The P3 event-related potential (ERP), a neural …

Prioritizing Well-Being To Advance Dental Education, Sophia G. Saeed Dmd, Mba, Facd, Hubert K. Chan Dds, Facd, Carlos Smith, Romesh P. Nalliah Dds, Mhcm, Facd

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Picture this: robots restoring your teeth and placing implants, digitally created orthodontic treatment plans, 3D-printed dentures, nanohydroxyapatite remineralization of early carious lesions, artificial intelligence (AI) calculating bone loss and identifying potential caries on radiographs, wearable technology providing large amounts of health-related data. It is an exciting time for dentistry and dental education!

Now consider this: the greatest number of faculty vacancies ever in the modern history of dental education, fewer tenured positions than ever before, below-market salaries for dental educators, continually declining reimbursement rates from third-party payers, growing health inequities among the richest and poorest patients, and an increasingly medically …

Silence In Market Reaction To Annual Reports, Magdalena Kochanowicz

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

Research problem - The literature suggests that the market either does not react or reacts with a delay to the content of annual reports, concerning notion given their importance for investment decisions due to the value relevance of the information they convey. According to the Efficient Market Hypothesis, the market should exhibit a prompt reaction to their release. Rationale - This study aims to uncover the underlying reasons for investors' lack of response to annual report filings. It predicts that the reaction depends, among other factors, on the release of preliminary disclosures of financial results, the method of distribution of …

Rhythmical And Balanced Education – A Matter Of Trust And Boundaries. – A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study About Pedagogic Practice In Swedish Waldorf-Steiner Schools, Helena Selsfors

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

Helena Selsfors, School of Society and Culture, Faculty of Education, Plymouth University Title of the study: Rhythmical and Balanced Education – a Matter of Trust and Boundaries; a Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study about Pedagogic Practice in Swedish Waldorf-Steiner Schools. This study investigates pedagogic practice in Swedish Waldorf-Steiner schools by using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Focus is on lived experiences of rhythms and balance, interpersonal processes, interaction and trust between teachers and students – connected to the mechanisms of power and control. It also investigates the experience of being part of a strong pedagogic tradition. In this study, cognition and experience are …

Integrating Natural Light For Wellbeing, Performance, And Quality Care Delivery In Healthcare Environments, Ademola Adebayo Akinbami

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

The global challenge of addressing human ill-health demands a re-evaluation of the multifaceted factors impacting health outcomes. Rising health issues in society impose significant burdens on healthcare professionals, affecting their comfort, overall well-being, and performance. While issues like inadequate funding and medical equipment shortages are frequently discussed, a growing recognition centres on the pivotal role that architecture and the built environment play in shaping health outcomes. Poorly designed healthcare facilities contribute to staff shortages and poor care outcomes. Consequently, architecture's transformative potential within the built environment becomes essential in advancing human health, well-being, and productivity. Interestingly, the impact of a …

Utilising Plutonium Isotopes To Evaluate Soil Erosion In Tropical East African Agri-Systems, Sophia Marie Dowell

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

In the beautiful landscapes of Tropical East Africa, agriculture serves as the lifeblood of both people and ecosystems. The delicate balance between agriculture and soil preservation forms a complex web of factors that significantly impact soil and plant health in the region. The use of plutonium (Pu) isotopes is a potential strategy for unravelling the history of soil erosion in this ecologically varied and agriculturally crucial area. This thesis investigates a novel method using Pu isotopes to study small-scale soil redistribution patterns across various land use histories and management practices in the Rift Valley region of the Winam Gulf catchment …

An Examination Of The Degree To Which The Bia Models Representative Bureaucracy In Selected Lakota Communities, Melissa Eagle Bear

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation focuses on representative bureaucracy as it applies to the administration of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and experienced by Lakota people within two Indian reservation communities. There is limited research on the theory and practice of representative bureaucracy within the context of BIA services. This qualitative study rests on the assumption that representative bureaucracy would lead to positive policy outcomes for Indian people. This research focuses on three specific areas of representative bureaucracy: passive, symbolic, and active representation. This phenomenological research takes as given the centrality of a Lakota epistemology: the beliefs, values and practices embodied in …

Online Perceived Social Support And Its Association With Psychopathology In Rural And Urban Youth, Ellen Alexandra Knowles

Dissertations and Theses

Social support is a fundamental aspect of development throughout adolescence. It has been found to buffer against the negative impacts of stress and provide general benefits to one’s well-being. Youth today are exposed to a range of opportunities for socialization with peers, both in-person and online, including interacting with others through texting, social media, video games, and other digital means. These online interactions have begun to be investigated as accessible methods through which adolescents can connect with others and maintain healthy relationships. Furthermore, digital social networks may be most critical for youth from isolated communities, including those from rural areas. …

Religious Upheaval In A South Dakota Mennonite Community, 1874-1940, Ryan Mews

Dissertations and Theses

In 1874, multiple colonies of German-Russian Mennonites and Hutterites entered the Dakota Territory to settle into tightknit religious communities. These Anabaptists sought to escape religious persecution and assimilation in Russia but found themselves influenced by American religious groups. Their history of isolationism caused these groups to draw lines between their congregations that kept them small but allowed them to interact with new ideas in different ways, but caused them to redefine their German Mennonite identity. One such influence erupted from the Presbyterian Church called fundamentalism that encouraged evangelical works in America and sought to combat modernism in religious institutions. In …

Implementation Of Formative Feedback Practices Via An Instructional Walkthrough Observation Tool: The Impact On Pre-Service Teacher Knowledge And Skills, Sheila Mulder

Dissertations and Theses

The collection of studies explores the role of feedback in the development of pre-service teachers’ knowledge and skills, focusing on the perspectives of university supervisors and cooperating teachers. The first study used a comparative case study examining pre-service teachers’ perceptions of the feedback they received and their ideal feedback across two universities. This revealed insights into effective feedback practices, informing teacher educator’s feedback practices, underscoring recommended feedback structures within teacher preparation programs. Moreover, there is a need for training in formative feedback practices to create a common understanding of the desired teaching practices, formative feedback practices to support collaborative feedback …

Mental Health In College Students: Efficacy Of A Telehealth-Delivered Occupational Therapy Program, Amy Marie Nelson

Dissertations and Theses

The number of college students in the United States struggling with mental health issues has increased tremendously over the past decade. Specifically, undergraduate students report stress and anxiety as significant inhibitors to academic performance. Colleges are investing resources to combat this problem, but increased counseling services are insufficient. Novel approaches beyond traditional college counseling services are recommended. Occupational therapy, not traditionally offered on most college campuses, may be one solution. A few occupational therapy programs exist on college campuses, but there is limited evidence of their efficacy, and most lack solid theoretical underpinnings. More evidence is needed on the effectiveness …

Childhood Maltreatment And Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Clusters: The Mediating Role Of Early Maladaptive Schemas, Sydney Nichole Stamatovich

Dissertations and Theses

The current study tested a structural equation model to examine the associations between types of childhood maltreatment (i.e., neglect, punishment, and sexual abuse), Jeffrey Young’s early maladaptive schemas (EMSs), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom clusters (i.e., avoidance, hyperarousal, intrusion, and negative alterations in cognitions and mood) in a sample of college students. Childhood maltreatment is a pervasive problem in the United States of America and has several short- and long-term physical and psychological consequences. Of note, victims of childhood maltreatment are at an elevated risk of developing PTSD. Further, childhood maltreatment and PTSD are associated with negative alterations in …

Crisis Intervention Model Effectiveness In South Dakota City And Rural Schools, Nicole Ann Bechen

Dissertations and Theses

Little information is known on crisis prevention and intervention plans in schools across South Dakota. A review of the existent literature revealed gaps within school-based crisis intervention models, their objectives, and their effectiveness in addressing the psychological and physical safety needs of students, staff, teachers, families, and community members. Gaps in understanding rural crisis response were noted. The purpose of this study was to assess whether crisis prevention and intervention plans in South Dakota schools adequately protected students, staff, families, and community members. To achieve this, a stratified random sample of 53 PreK-12 public schools in the state of South …

Designing Fluorescent Moscs For Potential Applications In Illicit Drugs Detection, Robyn Nicole Cook

Dissertations and Theses

Illicit and hazardous substances pose a serious effect on the human body which can create longer-term issues on the mental and physical health which potentially lead to fatalities. Current methods for detecting illicit substances include analytical techniques like mass spectrometry (MS) and gas/liquid chromatography (GC/LC) which are known for accuracy and sensitivity. However, these instruments are bulky, costly, time-consuming, and require highly trained personnel. An alternative approach to overcoming these limitations is to employ nanostructured molecule-based chemical sensing technologies that are user-friendly, portable, and cost-effective with the sensitivity for detecting illicit substances. One such candidate is metal-organic super-containers (MOSCs), which …

Exploring The Links Between Unknowns, Uncertainty And Epistemological Understanding In A More Authentic Form Of School Science Investigation, Matthew Wharf

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This research explored the role a more ‘authentic’ science investigation had on the epistemological understanding of secondary school students. It reviewed the understanding of what is taught within the science curriculum in terms of epistemology and the Nature of Science (NOS) and what may be considered a more authentic activity that more closely aligns with the qualities of professional science, where new knowledge is being formed as compared to what could be seen as conventional science investigations, the repetition of classic experiments. Lessons of 3 different classes, at different schools and in different years were used. An investigation lesson from …

The Assessment-Related Logics Of Practice At A South West Multi-Academy Trust, Samuel Gordon Morahan

Plymouth Institute of Education Theses

Over the last 40 years there have been widescale changes to the British education system. Through the process of neoliberalisation, education has become a commodity to be bought and sold with an ever-increasing emphasis on performativity and its related measures. Within this educational market, alternative provision settings provide commissioning schools with opportunities to purchase placements and packages for pupils, who for a variety of reasons, are unable to engage in mainstream education. Alternative provision settings must evidence value for money to these schools, whilst meeting statutory inspection requirements. Assessment practices and the numerical data they generate are central within this …

Assessing Discharge Knowledge For Caregivers Of Newborn (Using Video Discharge Instructions As An Adjunct To Standard Written Instructions) In Covid Period – A Randomized Controlled Trial, Jayesh Yadav, Khyati Gupta, Vishal D. Sawant

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: Studies have demonstrated that caregivers of newborn frequently face challenges in comprehending the instructions provided to them upon discharge. Video discharge instructions provide a clear and concise message and can potentially alleviate factors which have an impact on comprehension of caregivers like illiteracy, communication barriers and limited physician time. We aim to assess the impact of incorporating video-based discharge instructions on caregivers' comprehension of newborn care and post-discharge follow-up, specifically in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Caregivers of newborn in the COVID times were randomized into written only and written with video discharge instruction groups; …

Perceptions About Catholic High School Athletics, Kevin J. Calkins

Journal of Catholic Education

In the largest survey to date on Catholic school identity in athletics (49 U.S. States, n = 2273), administrators, counselors, and teachers responded to a survey about the perceived value of interscholastic athletics, school support of athletics, the contribution of coaches to school mission, Catholic identity in athletics, and the importance of the school’s athletic director and coaches to have a mission orientation. The results of the study indicate that administrators, counselors, and teachers have positive perceptions of Catholic high school athletics. Teacher perceptions differed more than administrators and counselors based on their age, gender, and religion. At least one …

Faith And Stem Education: A Path To Mutual Elevation In Catholic Schools, Michael Szopiak, Matthew Kloser

Journal of Catholic Education

Amidst increasing religious disaffiliation, often due to a perceived tension between faith and the STEM disciplines, Catholic schools provide critical opportunities for young people to recognize how these domains can be mutually elevating. The field, however, lacks guidance as to how this integration should occur in practice. This conceptual paper first provides an overarching framework for how aspects of the Catholic tradition, like Scripture and the Catholic social tradition, can shape traditional educational domains of STEM teaching and learning. Secondly, we provide a heuristic of three criteria for deeply engaging students at the interface of the Catholic faith and the …

Increasing Parent Faith Engagement At A Parish School, Grace Mazza Urbanski

Journal of Catholic Education

Increasing faith engagement among Catholic school shareholders is a priority for school leaders. Catholic school communities can learn from this year-long project with a parish school. Sacred Heart Parish School serves approximately 300 K3-8th grade students. Like many parish schools, Sacred Heart sees a growing number of parents disengaged with the faith life of the parish and school, despite 98% of them being registered parishioners. The parent population enjoys robust and regular social activities, but report they are uncomfortable or uninterested in faith activities. The mission of Sacred Heart Parish School is to nurture “children’s growth in the Catholic faith,” …

Paschal Space Of Healing And Community: An Affinity Group For Catholic School Teachers Of Color, John L. Beltramo, Lisa Archuleta

Journal of Catholic Education

As Catholic schools seek to recruit and retain more ethnoracially diverse faculties, we examine one site of potential support for Catholic school teachers of color – a racial affinity group. Using critical research methodology with qualitative data collection, we studied five teachers of color who engaged in weekly affinity group meetings, which were structured as Freirian culture circles and ran over a period of five months. Using a Catholic, critical framework on teacher education, we analyzed the data (culture circle recordings, written reflections, baseline and comparative interviews, along with classroom observations and debriefs) to examine how teachers’ participation impacted their …

Augustinian Composition Pedagogy And The Catholic Liberal Arts In The Time Of Generative Ai, Gavin F. Hurley

Journal of Catholic Education

This article proposes a theoretical basis of Augustinian composition pedagogy by tracing the symbiotic relationship between writing and knowing found within St. Augustine’s Letters, The Trinity, Soliloquies, and Confessions and connecting them to modern writing-to-learn composition pedagogies. Given today’s trying times of generative AI, this article argues that Catholic schools revitalize the writing arts in a manner proposed by Augustine—that is, to enrich inward contemplation and outward love for others. In embracing such philosophy of writing and applying it across the disciplines, Catholic schools can enrich their distinctively Catholic liberal arts mission—and ward off dangers found in …

A Novel Hyperparameter Search Approach For Accuracy And Simplicity In Disease Prediction Risk Scoring, Yajun Lu, Thanh Duong, Zhuqi Miao, Thanh Thieu, Jivan Lamichhane, Abdulaziz Ahmed, Durdun Delen

Research, Publications & Creative Work

Objective: Develop a novel technique to identify an optimal number of regression units corresponding to a single risk point, while creating risk scoring systems from logistic regression-based disease predictive models. The optimal value of this hyperparameter balances simplicity and accuracy, yielding risk scores of small scale and high accuracy for patient risk stratification.

Materials and Methods: The proposed technique applies an adapted line search across all potential hyperparameter values. Additionally, DeLong test is integrated to ensure the selected value produces an accuracy insignificantly different from the best achievable risk score accuracy. We assessed the approach through two case studies predicting …

The Effectiveness Of Imagery Use In Motivating Physical Activity And Exercise, Karol Nedza

School of Psychology Theses

The research detailed across these chapters provides a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted interplay between mental imagery, motivation, and physical activity. The global inactivity levels and their consequences for economic, health and social domains is at this point well documented. Despite the number of interventions and approaches, inactivity is steadily increasing annually. This thesis encompasses the effects of mental imagery in shaping behaviour, the diverse applications of mental imagery in sports and health-related behaviour change, and the emergence of Functional Imagery Training (FIT) as a powerful approach. FIT is discussed as a versatile tool for promoting behaviour change, grounded in …

The Purpose And Importance Of Words Of Knowledge When Praying For The Sick, Bruce L. Bauer

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

Seventh-day Adventists are not usually known for taking authority over sickness or taking a person by the hand and saying, “In the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, arise and walk.” And rightly so, for Adventists have been counseled that when praying for the sick “our prayers must take the form, not of command, but of intercession” (White 1942:230, 1915:218). Why, because only God knows what is right and best (White 1948:148, 149). In addition, Ellen White warns against prayers that insist on God doing what people think needs to happen (1948:148) and suggests that God’s people should only pray for …

The Relationship And Interaction Process Of Taiwanese Couples Having Undergone Assisted Reproductive Technology- A Systemic Perspective, Yu-Chieh Liu

School of Psychology Theses

Approximately 10-15% of married couples in Taiwan encounter the challenge of infertility, which significantly impacts their lives and relationships. However, the nature and extent of this impact vary across different social and cultural contexts. Recognising the complex and wide-ranging nature of infertility issues, integrated interventions have emerged as a novel approach to assist infertile couples effectively. Drawing upon Helms et al.'s (2011) modified three-level model of marriage, Huston's model, and Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory (1986), a comprehensive framework is constructed within this thesis to explore various aspects of infertile couples' experiences in Taiwan as they are undergoing assisted reproductive technology …

Cas Monthly Newsletter January 2024, Andrews University

College of Arts & Sciences Newsletter

Key Dates for January

IN THIS ISSUE

UPDATES & REPORTS

Welcome to Dr. Jill Manoukian

Religion Department News

Visual Art, Communication & Design Department News

Community & International Development Program News

HAPPENINGS

Quantitative Research Working Group

Faculty & Staff Appreciation Week

Winter Symposium

Christmas at the Biology Botanical Conservatory

ACADEMIC & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Research Deadlines

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Maker Lab

Writing Center

Registration Tips

New Copy Machine in Nethery Hall

Australian Pre-Service Teachers’ Beliefs About Educational Disadvantage And Socially Just Teaching: Beyond A Neoliberal Imaginary?, Claire E. Charles, Lynette Longaretti, Matthew K.E Thomas

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Neoliberal education reforms have altered the way social justice is imagined in relation to schooling. These reforms reframe social justice as ‘equity’ through conceptions of standards, evidence and teacher quality, while detracting attention from the moral and political dispositions required for socially-just teaching. Knowing more about how this context may be shaping the beliefs of pre-service teachers (PSTs) is important. This paper reports on beliefs about educational disadvantage of a group of PSTs about to embark on a specialised program in Australia designed to promote socially just schooling outcomes. 24 PSTs across two cohorts completed a survey prior to entering …

Theorizing Cultural Appropriation: Complications Of Globalization And Power In Hybrid K-Pop, David C. Oh

Media Studies - All Scholarship

The purpose of this paper is to theorize cultural appropriation using a critical perspective that centers structural inequity and uneven global power by examining the case of South Korean media. This paper argues that cultural appropriation is a particular form of intercultural borrowing that relies on structural inequities of power, whereby a more powerful culture takes from a less powerful culture in such a way that it causes structural and representational harm to the borrowed culture. To clarify cultural appropriation as a particular form of cultural borrowing, I provide a typology of different forms of cultural borrowing before positing six …

Immersive Storytelling As A Technology, A Practice, And An Experience, Nick Bowman, Lyndsay Gratch, Dan Pacheco, Tamara Makana Chock

Media Studies - All Scholarship

This thematic issue explores the transformative potential and challenges of immersive storytelling through extended technologies. While these technologies have been hailed as potential “empathy machines” that will encourage perspective-taking and understanding of others, they have also been critiqued for being distracting or engaging in identity tourism. Essays in this collection further demonstrated the complexities of extended reality storytelling. Collectively, these essays reflect ongoing dialogues about the efficacy of extended reality in conveying meaningful narratives, urging a nuanced understanding of technology’s role in storytelling. This collection serves as a catalyst for future explorations into where and how to craft immersive narratives …