Digital Commons Network^™

Driving Impactful Change: Entrepreneurial Insights For Social Responsibility In The Irish Context, Anna Zherdeva, Deirdre Mcquillan, Lucia Morales

Articles

Today’s volatile situation at the global level, provoked by a significant rise in Economic and Political Uncertainty, emerged as an answer on countries attempts to manage the climate change crisis, armed conflicts, the rising cost of living, a growing divide between the more prosperous Global North and the poorest Global South that are reflected on the emergence of multifaceted, multiple and long-lasting crises. During periods of heightened instability and economic uncertainty, businesses struggle to build trusting relationships with stakeholders as they seek to reduce costs. Additionally, companies seek deep engagement as they confront the costs associated with sustainability challenges and …

Quality Of Experience Assessment For Enhanced Video Streaming Services, Avsar Asan

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

In the contemporary digital landscape, service and content providers are increasingly focused on delivering high-quality multimedia services, a commitment driven by escalating user expectations and the advent of technologies like ultra-high-definition video and interactive services. Despite considerable advancements and investments in enhancing service capabilities, the surging demand for video services presents a multifaceted challenge.The key to user retention and satisfaction lies in maintaining a consistent quality of service, a task complicated by the limitations of available bandwidth and the consequential network or service impairments. These factors significantly influence user experience, with the potential risk of increased user churn, which can …

A Framework For Tailored Organisational Cyber Security Training, Zinnar Ghasem

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

Zinnar Ahmed Ghasem A framework for tailored organisational cyber security training AbstractSociety is increasingly becoming dependent on cyberspace; in such it is becoming an integral part of every-day life of most people in both work and home context. This dependency spans across individuals, businesses, and organisations including governments who are relying on cyberspace for various services, ranging from email to social networking, and from cloud computing to ecommerce and financial automated process and transactions. These services are vulnerable and face sophisticated cyber threats, risks and attacks, and potentially can result in financial losses and compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability …

Metamorphosis: An Evaluation Of The Adaptation And Re-Use Potential Of Suburban Housing For Older Homeowners, Michelle Moore

Masters

Ireland’s population is ageing at a rate that is more than twice the EU average. Public policy in Ireland aims to support older persons to age-in-place. Over 80% of older adults in Ireland live in an owner-occupied home, following many decades of public policy promoting home ownership as the tenure of choice. Limited research has been undertaken on the housing adaptation options that could result in privately-owned homes being made more suitable for the evolving needs of the rapidly ageing demographic. This thesis addresses the hypothesis that, with the provision of an appropriate suite of enablers, older homeowners can be …

Understanding Truth And Reconciliations Processes In An Art-Based Community Project Which Addresses Experiences Of Iatrogenic Harm In Mental Health Services, Joseph French

School of Psychology Theses

Research suggests that some service users may have harmful experiences of mental health services. Truth and reconciliations processes have addressed systemic harm in other contexts. However, these are complex and may have positive and negative impacts. Eight interviews were conducted with seven members of a community arts group which uses a truth and reconciliations approach. Members create art to express harmful experiences of the mental health system and display it at exhibitions where mental health professionals are invited to engage with it. The researcher used a constructivist grounded theory informed approach to understand how artists experienced a truth and reconciliations …

Bridging The Gap: A Mixed Methods Study Of Trainee Clinical Psychologists’ Experiences And Learning Needs For Working With Refugees, With Co-Produced Training Guidelines., Megan Stuart-Richards

School of Psychology Theses

AbstractRefugees face unique and traumatising challenges to their mental health across multiple socio-political climates. Services are providing inequitable support for refugees, which lack appreciation of transcultural conceptualisations of mental distress, amongst a backdrop of social injustice. Refugees were employed as Co-researchers to co-produce every stage of this project. Reflexive Thematic Analysis was utilised in this study to examine experiences and learning needs of 79 Trainee Clinical Psychologists (TCP’s) in their survey responses. Novel training guidelines, to be accessed via ‘supplementary materials’, were co-produced alongside scoped learning needs, which contribute to health research and practice. Four interrelated overarching themes became evident. …

“We've Just Kind Of Woven In All These Different Ways Of Keeping Him Close By” A Narrative Analysis Of How Children And Their Surviving Parent Co-Construct Continuing Bonds Following Parental Death, Miriam Summers

School of Psychology Theses

Continuing bonds research has predominantly focused on adults and considered from an individualistic perspective; consequently, little is known about how such bonds may be developed relationally within families. This study aimed to explore how parentally bereaved children and their parent/caregiver co-construct continuing bonds. Eight families were recruited, and parent/caregivers and their children were interviewed together. Narrative analysis explored semantic themes and interactional processes. The findings highlighted that continuing bonds are co-constructed through regular joint remembering, family acts of remembrance, joint connecting through objects and shared interpretations of signs from the deceased. Constructive interactional processes included collaboration, agreement and sharing positive …

Investigation Into Finops Techniques To Optimise Cost In Aws Cloud Deployments, Denis Parker, Kevin Bayliss

Academic Poster Collection

Investigation Into FinOps Techniques To Optimise Cost in AWS Cloud Deployments

Exploring The Sustainability Of Single Use Plastics In The Biopharmaceuticals Sector: A Scoping Review Of Challenges, Opportunities And Impact, Cormac Mcmahon, Adrienne F. M. Fleming, Philip Owende, Malcolm Goggin

Articles

Single-use plastics (SUPs) are synonymous with the biopharmaceuticals sector, facilitating economies of scale, process efficiency, flexibility and sterility assurance, all with a seemingly negligible environmental footprint. Yet, in ever-tightening regulation, mandated by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and by concern for large-scale industrial impacts, the sustainability of SUP consumption is increasingly being questioned. Whilst the sector contributes to human welfare, its transition risk is unlikely to remain immune to societal pressure for more sustainable production. This paper aims to present a scoping review of the apparent contradiction between sectoral SUP adoption and the increasing importance of circularity. The approach to …

From Feedback To Framework: Exploring A Student-Centric Development Process For Low-End Immersive Ar/Vr Learning Content In Hospitality Education, Alexander Lennart Schmidt, Praneschen Govender, Jeroen Oskam, Ralf Burbach, Davin Dunlea, Jennifer Hussey, Colin O’Connor, Daniel King, Pasi Tuominen, Jouko Loijas, Teemu Moilanen, Elisa Laatikainen, David Cortés, Belén Bermejo, Carlos Juiz

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

There is a vibrant debate concerning the integration of immersive learning content into hospitality education to (a.) embed the learning process in real-life professional contexts and, (b.) uphold student engagement. Contributing to this debate, this article explores the development process of low-end immersive AR/VR content for hospitality education, leveraging design-based research (DBR) centered around student feedback. This study is based on qualitative focus group data triangulated with survey data collected across four universities located in Europe, each of which offers hospitality programs. Our findings suggest a three-stage development process framework. This process comprises three decision-making dilemmas which need to be …

Espad Ireland 2024. European School Survey Project On Alcohol And Other Drugs, Joan Hanafin, Salome Sunday, Helen Fitzmarice, Luke Clancy

Reports

No abstract provided.

The Digital Loophole: Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Child Age Verification Methods On Social Media, Fatmaelzahraa Eltaher Ph.D, Rahul Gajula, Luis Miralles-Pechuán, Christina Thorpe, Susan Mckeever

Conference papers

Social media platforms are an integral part of daily life for nearly five billion people worldwide. However, the growing presence of underage users on these platforms raises significant concerns regarding children's exposure to harmful content and its impact on their mental health. This paper examines the effectiveness of age verification measures implemented on leading platforms Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and X. We evaluate the age verification processes required for account creation by simulating the registration steps for minors on these platforms. We also compare these methods to best practices in online age assurance in finance, betting and public transportation …

Integration Of The Portionsize Ed App Into Snap-Ed For Improving Diet Quality Among Adolescents In Hawaii: A Randomized Pilot Study, Emerald S. Proctor, Kiari H.L. Aveiro, Ian Pagano, Lynne R. Wilkens, Leihua Park, Leilani Spencer, Jeannie Butel, Corby K. Martin, John W. Apolzan, Rachel Novotny, John Kearney, Chloe P. Lozano

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Background/Objectives: Coupling mobile health (mHealth) technology with community-based nutrition programs may enhance diet quality in adolescents. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of integrating PortionSize Ed (PSEd), an image-assisted dietary assessment and education app, into the six-week Hawaii Food and Lifeskills for Youth (HI-FLY) curriculum delivered via Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed). Methods: Adolescents (grades 6–8) from two classrooms were cluster-randomized into HI-FLY or HI-FLY + PSEd. Both groups received HI-FLY and completed Youth Questionnaires (YQ) and food records (written or app-based) at Weeks 0 and 7. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed via enrollment, attrition, …

Tolerance Of Ambiguity And Psychological Wellbeing In Newly Qualified Doctors: An Analysis Over Multiple Time Points, Tom Gale

Peninsula Medical School

Introduction: There is evidence of an association between tolerance of ambiguity and psychological wellbeing in doctors, but this relationship is not well understood. We explored this relationship, and the individual or workplace factors moderating it, in a population of newly qualified doctors. Methods: We examined the experiences of newly qualified doctors in the UK as they started a novel interim role (Time 1) and later moved into foundation year 1 roles (Times 2 and 3) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Doctors completed the Tolerance of Ambiguity of Medical Students and Doctors scale (TAMSAD Range: 0–100), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS: 0–40), …

Evidence For Alcohol-Mediated Hemolysis And Erythrophagocytosis, Chaowen Zheng, Siyuan Li, Johannes Mueller, Cheng Chen, Huanran Lyu, Guandou Yuan, Ane Zamalloa, Lissette Adofina, Parthi Srinivasan, Krishna Menon, Nigel Heaton, Stephan Immenschuh, Ines Silva, Vanessa Rausch, Seddik Hammad, Steven Dooley, Shilpa Chokshi, Antonio Riva, Songqing He, Sebastian Mueller

Peninsula Medical School

Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is the most common liver disease worldwide; however, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we identify ethanol-mediated hemolysis and erythrophagocytosis as major contributors to ALD pathogenesis using both in vitro and in vivo models, as well as surrogate markers such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and CD163, a scavenger receptor for hemoglobin-haptoglobin complexes. A key initial observation was the direct optical evidence of serum hemolysis in heavy drinkers, which diminished after one week of alcohol withdrawal. In parallel, soluble CD163 (sCD163) levels declined during alcohol detoxification correlating with liver damage and fibrosis stages. Moreover, red …

Globalism, Localism And Blue Food Systems – How Can Cross-Scale Tensions Be Reduced? A Production Perspective From Uk Seafood Stakeholders, Alex J. Caveen, Bryce D. Stewart, Cameron Moffat, Daniel Skerritt, Estelle Jones, Huw Thomas, Lara Funk, Magnus Johnson, Mike Cohen, Michael Roach, Neil A. Auchterlonie, Samuel Peacock, Sarah Hussey, Tim Gray, Tom Pickerell, Umi Muawanah, Vasiliki Kioupi, Yvonne Sadovy De Mitcheson, Neil M. Burns, Charlotte R. Hopkins

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

‘Blue foods’ are derived from aquatic species that are caught or cultivated and are amongst the most globally traded commodities. Growing emphasis is being placed on blue foods in future transitions to sustainable food systems. However, recent international events such as the Covid-19 pandemic, UK-EU ‘Brexit’, and Russia-Ukraine war have caused renewed interest in ideological debates between globalism and localism and associated cross-scale tensions. Here, we aim to provide further insight into cross-scale tensions in blue food systems through a literature review and UK-based seafood stakeholder workshop. From our literature review, the evidence for cross-scale tensions was linked to the …

Ceo Turnover And Shareholder Awareness In Cartel Cases, Catarina Marvão, Giancarlo Spagnolo

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

We examine the consequences of cartel detection for the careers of CEOs in the US and the EU; the characteristics of colluding CEOs (e.g., tenure, age); and shareholders’ awareness of management misbehavior. Additionally, we examine at what level cartel decisions are made according to the available case documents. We find that only 4% of all CEOs in convicted EC cartel firms (1998-2020) are explicitly fired due to collusion, and that 30% of CEOs indicted in DOJ cartels (1985-2011) are fired. Often, CEOs remain in place or take on other high-level positions in the firm. This suggests that (most) shareholders are …

Bridging The Divide: How Do Lecturers In Undergraduate Sound Engineering Courses Bridge The Gap Between Industry And Education?, Daniel Tregenna

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

The formal study of sound engineering is a relatively modern and under-researched field within modern arts education. However, this subject has a number of features that are common across a range of subjects of a similar nature. How the lecturers who work on these courses influence students and tie them to the wider industry is potentially pivotal in an industry so intrinsically tied to the nature of interpersonal connections. Particularly where this industry simultaneously does not provide stable and sustained working partnerships. This international comparative study looks to explore the role lecturers on undergraduate sound engineering courses play in bridging …

Ontological Machines: Subjectivity And Relational Desire In Immersive And Interactive Environments, Toby Chanter

School of Art, Design and Architecture Theses

This practice-based artistic research focuses on two contemporary spaces; namely the pedagogical spaces of healthcare Simulation Based Education (SBE), and the exhibition spaces of installation art. These seemingly unrelated activities share a range of technological and operational similarities that render their combined study under the banner of ‘immersive and interactive environments’ both novel and necessary. The lack of broad engagement with questions of representation, aesthetics, and affect is conspicuous in an educational practice that is reliant on, and implemented through, a network of overtly visual mediums, material technologies, and sensory modalities. In healthcare SBE, clinical skills are acquired, and medical …

Un-Framing Transiting Trajectories: A ‘Beyond Disciplinary’ Approach To Curating In The Context Of Art And Science Discourse, Christina Ioanna Kazakou

School of Art, Design and Architecture Theses

Abstract

Evaluation Of Processing Conditions For The Reduction Of Electrochemical Salt Waste Using Phosphate-Based Dechlorination, Harmony Werth, Jade Beland, Paige Murray, Dave Liang, Laurel Sharpless, Jonathan Evarts, Charmayne Lonergan, Brian J. Riley, Michael Simpson, Krista Carlson

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Electrochemical processing of used nuclear fuel in molten chloride salts generates complex radioactive salt waste. Dechlorination of waste salt using phosphate compounds at elevated temperatures (∼600 °C) reduces the volume of material for disposal while evolving gaseous chlorine compounds that could be used to transform metallic uranium into UCl3. In this study, the effects of processing temperature, environment (air or argon), and H3PO4 precursor-to-chlorine ratio on the dechlorination efficacy of a simple alkali salt mixture (SSM) and a salt waste simulant (ERV3) were evaluated. For both salts, the highest chlorine release was concurrent with the water boiling. For the SSM, …

The Impact Of Structural Gamification On Student Motivation And Engagement In A Middle School Language Arts Classroom, Natalie Campbell

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Engagement through gamification can play a crucial role in enhancing student motivation. Gamification provides direct feedback, makes learning interactive, fosters collaboration, and makes learning more autonomous (Kuh, 2001; Reeve & Tseng, 2011). Including game-thinking and game mechanics in the classroom adds an aspect of engagement that may otherwise be lacking.

This action research study explored the impact of structural gamification on student engagement and motivation when incorporated in a middle school language arts classroom. Using a mixed-methods approach, the researcher measured student engagement and motivation. It reported detailed perceptions of participants through survey responses, examined achievement data from summative assessments, …

An Examination Of Middle School Girls’ Perceptions And Preferences Of Reading From A Device Versus Paper, Debra Kisch

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Schools have been impacted by the technological advancements of the world. With these changes, students have been increasingly using technology, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic. The use of devices to read, both for pleasure and academically, have increased, especially since the introduction of Amazon’s Kindle in 2007 (Ashburn, 2024). Additionally, schools have started issuing devices for students to use and it is reported that forty-five percent of schools have a computer for each student (National Center for Education Statistics, 20). They found an extra 37% reported having a computer for each student in some grades or classrooms. States are also …

Learning To Learn: Underprepared College Students Who Succeeded, Todd Spellman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Post-secondary remediation is a topic of great concern for legislators and educators alike. Many describe it as a problem in need of a solution and try to pursue what they see as possible remedies. But solutions are already present in the stories of those who have already successfully navigated this pathway of remediation in college. This study will explore student successes through their remedial coursework at colleges in the American Midwest. While recognizing the historical and cultural context that makes remediation necessary in open-enrollment institutions like community colleges, this study sought student feedback to explore what factors the students felt …

Exploring Postsecondary Students’ Beliefs Relative To Behavior That Promotes Sleep, Levi T. Kirkpatrick

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Sleep research has extensively quantified poor sleep among postsecondary students and established associations with adverse consequences; however, research exploring students’ beliefs toward sleep-promoting behavior is scarce. The current qualitative study explored postsecondary students’ beliefs toward behavior that promotes sleep at a midwestern state university. Using the integrated behavioral model, the current study aimed to expand the understanding of how students perceive and engage with behaviors that promote better sleep. The primary research question was: “How do currently enrolled postsecondary students attending a state university located in the Midwest region of the United States describe their beliefs relative to behavior that …

Anxious, Persistent, And Resilient; Oh My!, Samantha Hilbert

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.

Organization Communication Policy To Emphasize Student Employee Productivity, Yohan Fernando

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study explored student perceptions of organizational communication policies and their impact on student employee productivity at a mid-sized Midwestern university. In-depth interviews with student employees revealed key themes—fairness, uniformity, openness, and communication—as essential elements of transparency. Additionally, academic work-life balance and scheduling flexibility emerged as critical factors in supporting productivity. The findings show that student employees view transparency and flexibility as central to both job satisfaction and productivity. Policies that promote equitable treatment and adaptable scheduling were especially influential. While organizational vision, mission, and values were recognized, they were not seen as major drivers of productivity. Similarly, rewards and …

Censorship: Through An Iowan’S Eyes, Erin Mcrae

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This is a collection of creative work prefaced by an introduction, which gives an overview of the development of these pieces. The pieces contained in this thesis are comprised of various genres, including creative nonfiction, poetry, and short fiction.

More Than Just A Game: What Higher Education Can Learn From Player Agency, Kyle Haiman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Higher education presents students with the challenge of balancing institutional expectations for autonomy with the need for community and support. In a world that is becoming more individualized and less empathetic, agency, or engaging in intentional action,plays a crucial role in navigating this tension. Agency has been linked to academic success and real-world problem solving, yet its development among college-aged students remains an ongoing challenge. Games and game-based learning offer a unique lens through which to explore agency, as players regularly engage in decision making, problem solving, and self-directed learning.

This qualitative study examined how college students at a regional, …

Check All That Apply: The Persistence And Problem Of The Black/White Racial Binary In Iowa Public Schools, Jessica Nessan Kluck

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The promotion of monoracial normativity has profoundly influenced the language used in policies, creating societal expectations that other the identification of Black/white Biracial and multiracial identities. Despite the reality of our quickly shifting demographics, multiracial identities continue to be marginalized and misconstrued through racial reporting guidelines. Racial reporting used on forms required by the Iowa Department of Education are comingled with non-racially categorized data to further distance reality in education and the public-school rankings (Iowa Department of Education, 2012; State of Iowa, 2024).

The purpose of this study was to trace the legacy of the socially constructed racial binary, preserved …