Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating The Integration Of A Mathematics Enhancement Programme Into Jamaican Primary Mathematics Classes, Shandelene Khadine Kedisha Binns-Thompson

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This embedded quasi-experimental research design examined the impact of an enrichment initiative entitled the Mathematics Enhancement Programme (MEP) on Jamaican students’ performance and attitude towards mathematics. It identified teaching strategies for integrating the MEP into Jamaican primary mathematics classes. It investigated the impact of the MEP on teachers’ pedagogical practices, and it identified the barriers to integrating the MEP. A sample of 331 students and 12 teachers were conveniently selected from three schools from three parishes in Jamaica for the intervention group. The comparison group consisted of 180 students and seven teachers conveniently selected from two schools in central Jamaica. …

A Novel Approach To Expedite Emergency Investigation For Suspected Cauda Equina Syndrome Referrals From Community And Primary Care Services: A Service Evaluation, Jonathon Gill, Sue Greenhalgh, Jos M. Latour, Stephen Pickup, Gillian Yeowell

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Introduction: Although a rare spinal emergency, cauda equina syndrome (CES) can result in significant physical, emotional, and psychological sequalae. Introducing a CES pathway enhances diagnosis but may increase Radiology and Orthopaedic workload. To address this, one NHS hospital in England introduced a novel CES pathway. Utilising a criteria-led pathway, patients were referred directly from community/primary care, via the Emergency Department, for an emergency MRI scan. Objective: To compare the outcomes of patients referred via an original and redesigned Community and Primary Care CES pathway. Design: A retrospective service evaluation was undertaken of all emergency MRI scans investigating suspected CES via …

Doing The Dishes: A Comprehensive Analysis Of The Late Bronze Age Ceramics Excavated From Hut 12 At Mokarta, Sicily, Justin Lee Singleton

Dissertations

Problem

This dissertation is presented as a fulfillment of the work that Sebastiano Tusa, the site director of Mokarta, had requested before his passing, that is, a complete catalogue of all Hut 12 ceramics, their functions, and how these may have fit into the site as a whole. The site itself, Mokarta, is a Late Bronze Age site in western Sicily that was destroyed by fire ca. 950 B.C. The site has not yet been fully excavated, and only a fraction of information that has been gathered has been published. The research for this dissertation is the first comprehensive analysis …

Spiritual Experiences Of Young People With Cognitive Impairments Within Christian Communities Of Faith, Lea Danihelova

Dissertations

This study was initiated with the primary objective of delving deep into the spiritual experiences of individuals living with cognitive impairments. The research was centered on seven young adults with cognitive impairment who were members of the Christian communities of faith and resided in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. The study focused on giving voice to these young people since there were no studies about the spirituality of people with cognitive impairment done in central Europe. The hermeneutic phenomenological approach was chosen as the research method due to its capacity for facilitating personal interactions, thus enabling a comprehensive understanding of …

How Does Living In A Rural Location Affect Experiences Of Acquired Vision Impairment?, Rebecca Woods

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This research explores the lived experiences of adults with acquired sight loss who live in rural areas in Southwest England. There is a scarcity of published academic research with this group. Vision impaired people who live in rural locations are therefore unrecognised sources of vision impairment rehabilitation knowledge. The research is conducted in an interpretivist paradigm. The research is guided by phenomenological understanding, rooted in Merleau-Ponty’s concepts of perception, the centrality of tool-use, and human embodiment. Attention is centred on the process of adapting to sight loss in a domestic setting, placing this research in an experiential, community-based educational context. …

The Statutory Assessment Of Children And Young People With Special Educational Needs: A Bourdieusian Analysis, Blanche Gibson

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

Research since the Children and Families Act (2014) and the SEND Code of Practice 0-25 (DfE & DoH, 2015) has focused upon new processes for statutory assessment, the quality of Education, Health and Care plans and the success and/or failures of the bureaucratic systems put in place to administer these. This research uses the thinking tools of the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu (1930 - 2002), to consider how statutory assessment is perceived within the field of SEND. A conceptual framework, influenced by Bourdieu’s field theory (1984) and Crossley’s social movement fields (2003), is employed to examine participants responses to questions …

Self-Care Through Clinical Pastoral Education For Emotional Healing Of Pastoral Staff In The United States: A Case Study For Exploring Relationships, Roberto Vizcaino

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

I have observed that many pastors are suffering from problems experienced in the past and in the present. The problems are both personal (e.g., lack of self-care and depression) and national (e.g., lack of support for social recovery from hurricanes and other natural and socioeconomic catastrophes). Some of the problems experienced by these pastors are because they have not had the opportunity to identify the traumas they experienced in their lives and that still affect them now. In addition, many of them do not have a place where they can share their problems with their colleagues, be heard, supported, …

Developing And Implementing An Evangelistic Vision: A Study Of Four Different Cohorts In The Birmingham, Alabama Area, Albert Eugene Frazier

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The foundation of the Seventh-day Adventist church is based on principles of Holy Spirit-inspired vision and execution, established on the example of Jesus who directly implemented spiritual graces in ministry. Within Birmingham First Seventh-day Adventist church, pastoral observation revealed a disconnect in developing and implementing vision and the spiritual graces to achieve evangelistic activity within church leadership and laity. This divide has resulted in a decrease in effective evangelism.

Method

A program focusing on vision development/implementation and teaching/implementation of the spiritual graces was developed utilizing a combination of presentations and practical applications. The project lasted from May 2022 through …

Programa De Capacitacion Sobre Predicacion Expositiva Para Ancianos Y Otros Lideres De Las Iglesias Adventistas Del Septimo Dia En El Distrito De Silver Spring, Maryland, Willy A. Benzaquen

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Most Adventist pulpits are served by people who are not pastors. By 2023, the Seventh-day Adventist Church had 175,144 congregations, and only 21,903 active ordained pastors. This indicates that, even if all pastors preached every week in some Adventist church, still 87.5% of Adventist pulpits around the world would be in the hands of someone who is not a pastor (Office of Archives, 2024). The author of this project serves as pastor in a three-church district, and it is simply impossible for him to preach in every one of them every weekly worship service. For that reason, at least …

Developing A Strategy For Synergy Between Home And Church To Increase Youth Engagement And Faith Formation At Barriere Adventist Church, Timoteus Nagy

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

There was no intentional synergistic relationship between the home and the church at the Barriere Adventist Church. As a result, church leaders often expressed discouragement when they saw teens become disengaged with church and spirituality. They suggested that the root problem of this symptom was the lack of cooperation between the two faith-forming institutions in keeping young people engaged and growing in their faith. As a pastor, I saw this deficiency and our urgent need for change.

Method

A six-month action research strategy was designed and delivered at the Barriere Adventist Church. Twenty members from every generational cohort were …

Is There A Future For The Missiological Study Of Worldview? Part 1, Paulo C. Oliveira

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

This two-part article aims to assess the missiological worldview theory critically while pointing to implications for mission studies. It argues that the concept needs serious development to be useful for research in contemporary society. The social shifts experienced in the last decades and a lack of robust missiological critical engagement have made the model theoretically unreliable as an analytical tool. This first paper introduces the genealogy of missiological worldview theory to expose its theoretical underpinnings and identifies a departure between anthropology and missiology regarding the concept. The first task in the ensuing discussion is to unearth the theoretical foundations of …

The Embryonic Thermal Environment Has Positive But Weak Effects On Thermal Tolerance Later In Life In The Aquatic Invertebrate Gammarus Chevreuxi, Honor Haskett, Luke Gill, John I. Spicer, Manuela Truebano

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Recent evidence suggests that the adult phenotype is influenced by temperatures experienced in early life. However, our understanding of the extent to which the embryonic environment can modulate thermal tolerance later in life is limited, owing to the paucity of studies with appropriate experimental designs to test for this form of developmental plasticity. We investigated whether the thermal environment experienced during embryonic development affects thermal limits in later life. Embryos of the estuarine amphipod Gammarus chevreuxi were incubated until hatching to 15 °C, 20 °C and 25 °C, then reared under a common temperature. Using thermal ramping assays, we determined …

Insights From Early Career Researcher Representatives At The Sustainability Research & Innovation Congress 2022 Asia Spotlight Event, Cho Kwong Charlie Lam

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The Sustainability Research & Innovation Congress 2022 Asia Spotlight Event (SRI-ASE 2022) was held virtually from June 21-24, 2022 and co-organized by Future Earth Global Secretariat Hubs in Asia based in Japan, Taipei, China, and South Asia, during the main sessions of the SRI 2022. SRI-ASE 2022 included over 70 speakers and more than 300 participants from within and outside the Asia region. The aim of the event was to provide space to reflect on inspiring research and discussions related to the themes: New Horizons, Different Ways of Knowing, Nexus Issues, and Cross-cutting Science and Innovation in Asia. This report …

Aquatic Connectivity: Challenges And Solutions In A Changing Climate, Paul A. Franklin, Tea Bašić, Phil I. Davison, Katie Dunkley, Jonathan Ellis, Mayuresh Gangal, Alexia M. González-Ferreras, Catherine Gutmann Roberts, Georgina Hunt, Domino Joyce, C. Antonia Klöcker, Rachel Mawer, Timo Rittweg, Velizara Stoilova, Lee Frank Gordon Gutowsky

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The challenge of managing aquatic connectivity in a changing climate is exacerbated in the presence of additional anthropogenic stressors, social factors, and economic drivers. Here we discuss these issues in the context of structural and functional connectivity for aquatic biodiversity, specifically fish, in both the freshwater and marine realms. We posit that adaptive management strategies that consider shifting baselines and the socio-ecological implications of climate change will be required to achieve management objectives. The role of renewable energy expansion, particularly hydropower, is critically examined for its impact on connectivity. We advocate for strategic spatial planning that incorporates nature-positive solutions, ensuring …

Electrochemical Based Quantification Of Bacterial Growth In Media Using Square Wave Voltammetry And Low Cost Screen Printed Electrodes, Simon Peter Whelan, Shirin Naserikarimvand, Zari Tehrani, Martin Peacock, Owen Guy, David Gethin

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

A novel method for determining the yield of bacterial growth using square wave voltammetry and screen printed electrodes is described here. This procedure was shown to be a reliable and accurate way to quickly determine the level of bacterial growth within culturing media and these results suggest that the combination of such sensors and the application of square wave voltammetry is suitable for applications such as within a bioreactor where the rapid determination of bacterial growth may be necessary.

Blood From A Stone: Do The Trace Metals Of Sperm Whale Coproliths Reveal A Contribution From Squid Haemolymph?, Steven J. Rowland, Robert Clough, Paul A. Sutton, George H. Rowland

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Background: Ambergris is a coprolith produced by some sperm whales (∼1 %). It has been hypothesised that the metals in ambergris derive from the haemolymph of squid in the whale diet (mainly copper). However, few data exist. We report analysis of 10 trace metals in each of 50 ambergris samples by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Main Findings: Acid digests of the samples contained ∼5 to >6880 µg g⁻¹ air-dried weight total metals; mainly of iron (present in ∼90 % of samples, 38), copper (∼95 % of samples, 40), zinc (93 % of samples, 39) and cadmium (∼95 % of …

Pwn Lessons Made Easy With Docker: Toward An Undergraduate Vulnerability Research Cybersecurity Class, T.J. O'Connor, Alex Schmith, Chris Stricklan, Marco Carvalho, Sneha Sudhakaran

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

Developing expertise in vulnerability research is critical to closing the cybersecurity workforce shortage. However, very few institutions have adopted vulnerability research into their cybersecurity curriculum, and fewer have examined how to teach this skill to students. The recent emergence of lightweight, container-based virtualization presents a unique opportunity to address this challenge by offering reproducible environments that ease course facilitation. This paper presents an undergraduate vulnerability course design. Our approach leverages a hands-on methodology that challenges students to develop complex binary exploits over our lectures, labs, and exams. We share our detailed design, labs, experiences, lessons learned, and a lightweight virtual …

Counseling Oppression, Angelo Petrigh

Faculty Scholarship

Critical scholars and public defenders alike have grappled with the contradictions at the heart of counseling clients in a carceral system. Systems of oppression operate within the public defender - client relationship because the defender’s role in translating the law also enforces its inequities. Counseling can obscure the workings of the system, providing an illusion of choice despite privileging certain forms of knowledge and tactics.

But the counseling site is also where defenders become exposed to client’s lived experiences, encounter collectivist tactics, and critically examine the tension of their role in the system. Likewise, through counseling defenders can pull back …

Editorial Foreword Ijsls Volume 3 Number 2, Sulistyowati Irianto

The Indonesian Journal of Socio-Legal Studies

This edition of the journal presents three articles on environmental issues. The first article examines the impact of tourism policies in the Komodo National Park on the indigenous peoples who inhabit the region. The second article analyses the efforts of Jakarta residents to access justice for clean water, while the third article considers the water conservation efforts that have resulted in land conflicts in Manggarai, Nusa Tenggara. The remaining two articles address women's issues, specifically the representation of women in parliament and the phenomenon of electronic-based sexual violence.

Confusion, Chaos, And Conflict In U.S. Law And Health Care After Dobbs, Nicole Huberfeld

Faculty Scholarship

The U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision caused a proliferation of contradictory state laws and judicial decisions that are producing confusion for health care providers, which in turn limits access to care for all patients of reproductive age. This paper documents the rapidly changing legal landscape to investigate and contextualize the significance of these inter‑state conflicts and illustrate how inequities deepen when health care is left in the hands of state governments without national law to provide guardrails. Drawing on interdisciplinary scholarship, including legal, medical, and public health research, this essay considers how traditional federalism theory, which encourages sub‑government variation, does …

Game Theoretic Analysis Of The Feedback Loop Caused By Widely Available Computer Estimation On Market Values, Viorel Silaghi, Zobaida Alssadi, Ben Mathew, Majed Alotaibi, Ali Alqarni, Marius Silaghi

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

Public availability of computer generated predictions can change the markets and its impact is here investigated with a game theoretic approach. Real estate inflation is not a new phenomenon but its consistent and almost monotonous persistence over unusually many years, coinciding with new prominence of public estimation information from successful Mass Real Estate Estimators (MREE) already caused various independent research organizations to investigate potential links. What we model is a repetitive theoretical game between the MREEs and the home owners, where each player has secret information and expertise. In contrast to competing results, for our model and simulations a restriction …

Recovery Of Ionic Liquid From The Model Solution Mixture Mimicking The Catalytically Hydrolyzed Cellulose Product Utilizing Amberlyst Ion-Exchange Resin, Chhabilal Regmi, Chidambaram Thamariselvan, Zhexi Zhu, Xianghong Qian, S. Ranil Wickramasinghe

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The hydrolysis of cellulose using ionic liquid (IL) has been extensively studied but there is limited understanding of the removal of IL from the biomass hydrolysate. Finding a suitable method for the recovery and reuse of IL is one of the biggest challenges before its large-scale application. Selecting an appropriate combined recovery process is very important. This study proposed a facile ion-exchange combined method for the recovery of IL from the modeled cellulose hydrolysate mixture containing sugars as well as γ-valerolactone (GVL) via an adsorption–desorption mechanism using sulfonic acid cation-exchange (Amberlyst 15 (H)) resin. The results showed that the resin …

Mobile Fog Ai For Internet Of Battlefield Things (Iobt), Sheuli Paul, Marius Silaghi, Veton Këpuska, Akram Alghanmi, Steven Liu

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

New mechanisms provide soldiers automation capabilities that include interactive, mobile, fast, scalable, secured, powerful computational communication in contested environments such as battle fields. Internet of BattleField Things (IoBT) is a technology that develops integrated Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for the war of the future. The IoBT connects soldiers with smart technology in armour, radios, weapons, munitions, other objects such as health sensors, GPS, and various IoT devices. These “things”, objects, or constrained devices can communicate with each other or across existing network infrastructure such as the Internet or network meshes. They most of the time come with limited capacity …

Contextualizing The Triggering Event: Colonial White Supremacy, Anti-Blackness, And Black Lives Matter In Italy And The United States, Renee Nicole Allen

Minnesota Journal of International Law, Vols. 28:2 onward (2019-present)

No abstract provided.

Multinational Business Entities And Their Role In The Global Environmental, Social, And Governance Architecture, Ilias Bantekas

Minnesota Journal of International Law, Vols. 28:2 onward (2019-present)

No abstract provided.

Making International Human Rights Treaties Relevant To The Protection Of Human Rights In African Countries, John Mukum Mbaku

Minnesota Journal of International Law, Vols. 28:2 onward (2019-present)

No abstract provided.

A Never-Ending U.S.-China Solar Trade War? The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act And International Trade Law, Mandy Meng Fang

Minnesota Journal of International Law, Vols. 28:2 onward (2019-present)

No abstract provided.

Past Wounds, Present Scars: A Historical-Legal Analysis Of Religion, Regulation, And Rights In Article 36 Of The Chinese Constitution, Joseph Chu

Minnesota Journal of International Law, Vols. 28:2 onward (2019-present)

This article focuses on the role of written constitutions and religion in the Chinese context, with a focused examination of the “no foreign domination qualifier” (“NFDQ”) of religion in Article 36 of the Chinese Constitution, for which little to no dedicated research has been conducted to date. The article conducts a historical-legal analysis to uncover reasons for the inclusion of the NFDQ in the Chinese Constitution, aiming to identify the nature of this unique clause. By examining treaties involving foreign control of Christianity imposed by various Western powers on nineteenth century China and their effects, the article identifies the NFDQ …

Mutually Assured Discussion: Lessons From Space Law For A Waning Nuclear Arms Regime, Elsbeth J. Magilton

Minnesota Journal of International Law, Vols. 28:2 onward (2019-present)

This paper investigates the usefulness of applying the lessons of the Artemis Accords (“Accords”) to the nuclear arms regime – specifically asking whether strategic soft law agreements could create a stop gap for the shortcomings of long held nuclear arms agreements. To do so, it explores multiple instruments of international law, their uses in the existing nuclear and space frameworks, and how that may inform future actions for security or arms agreements. In conclusion, it is determined that the approach developed by the Accords may benefit future nuclear arms communications. The Accords bring many states to the table, largely underscoring …

Populist Secularism, Seval Yildirim

Minnesota Journal of International Law, Vols. 28:2 onward (2019-present)

This article argues that in the context of a developing democracy, the rise of religiously oriented parties should be viewed contextually as part of an ongoing process of democratic negotiation and consolidation. Using Turkey as a case study, this article argues that religion and secularism are best viewed as parts of a symbiotic relationship, informing each other’s identity, and defining characteristics through an ongoing process of negotiation. The article discusses commonly used concepts relevant to secularism in general and argues for the need to distinguish between the secular, secularism, and secularization as a governance project. Through a historical survey of …