Digital Commons Network^™

Designing Library Materials And Programming To Enhance Hsc Author Visibility, Will White

HSC Education Days

No abstract provided.

Cancer Research Workshop: A Guide To The Resources And Processes For Successful Creation Of A Cancer Research Project At An Academic Medical Institution, Jackie Nemunaitis

HSC Education Days

No abstract provided.

Meeting The Occupational Needs Of Older Adults With Long-Term Conditions: An Exploration Of Occupational Therapy In Primary Care, Sam Wakley

School of Health Professions Theses

This thesis investigated the occupational needs of older adults with long-term conditions to determine how these needs could be met through primary care, acknowledging this as a contemporary area of occupational therapy practice. Combining three studies offered a comprehensive, occupationally centred analysis of a growing area of practice that remains underexplored. Strand One involved conducting a scoping review to map existing models of primary care for adults with long-term conditions. It demonstrated that current approaches largely neglect occupation, favouring biomedical outcomes and fiscally related priorities. However, growing awareness to quality of life and the role of an integrated multidisciplinary team …

The Representation Of Urban Peripherality In Selected Noir Narratives, Mona Sayed

English Language and Literature

This thesis examines the representation of two forms of urban peripherality, i.e. city periphery and peripheral city, in selected noir narratives from two Akashic short story collections, Brooklyn Noir (2004), edited by Tim McLoughlin, and Mumbai Noir (2012), edited by Altaf Tyrewala. The study investigates these representations to attempt forming a broader conceptualisation of urban peripherality that goes beyond the conventional Western one, which foregrounds the geographical divides as identifying features between urban centre and periphery. The thesis draws on the urban conceptual framework to conduct a close reading of the spatial, cultural, and social representations of urban peripheries within …

Library Support For Massive Open Online Courses (Moocs) In The Philippines: The Case Of American Corners, Princess Grace Wooden, Darin Jan Tindowen

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study examined the role of libraries in supporting Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the Philippines, with particular focus on American Corners as library-based learning spaces. Grounded in the increasing demand for flexible and accessible education, the study aimed to assess the readiness of American Corner libraries and determine the extent of MOOC implementation, as well as examine the relationship between these variables. A quantitative descriptive-correlational research design was employed, involving 28 American Corner staff composed of directors and librarians from 14 participating institutions. Data were collected using a validated survey questionnaire and analyzed through frequency, percentage, weighted mean, …

Rethinking Library Opac: From Siloed Retrieval To Ai And Ml-Driven Discovery Using Fastapi And Mysql, Sukumar Mandal

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The paper explores integration methods between MySQL and FastAPI to develop dynamic Online Public Access Catalog services including functionalities for modern libraries and information centers. It addresses evolving user expectations by replacing rigid keyword-based search models with adaptive, intelligent discovery experiences that prioritize search relevance. The goal involves transforming traditional library retrieval tools into contextual discovery platforms that effectively understand specific user intent and complex needs. The prototype was created on Ubuntu in a customized Python environment. It uses FastAPI to manage asynchronous API calls and MySQL to store bibliographic data. SQLAlchemy abstracts the database layer, and Pydantic validates data. …

Uncovering The Disciplinary Pulse Of Library And Information Science Through Large-Scale Topic Modelling Of Openalex Scholarly Literature, Sailendra Malik, Sukumar Mandal

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Library and Information Science is among the oldest and intellectually pluralistic scholarly disciplines but the inner thematic structure has not been established. The article develops a systematic and data intensive mapping of the field by the Latent Dirichlet Allocation topic modelling to 7,824 articles in the English language indexed in OpenAlex in the year 2000 to 2025. A ten topic solution is an optimised solution that identifies a group of readable and sensible thematic domains including information literacy digital libraries scientometrics archives and scholarly communication. The analysis of temporal trajectory reveals that there have been consistent expansion at the emergent …

From Digital Skills To Digital Ventures: Exploring The Influence Of Digital Competence On Infopreneurship Intentions Of Library And Information Science Students In Nigerian Polytechnics, Uwaebuka Wisdom Madu Dr., Stephen Adekunle Ajayi Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The focus of this study was to investigate the influence of digital competence on infopreneurship intention among Library and Information Science (LIS) students in federal polytechnics in South-West Nigeria, a context characterized by high graduate unemployment and rapid digital transformation. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Eshet-Alkalai's Digital Literacy Model, a descriptive survey design was employed. The population comprised 638 final-year LIS students across four federal polytechnics, with a sample of 468 selected through multi-stage sampling. A validated questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.828 was used for data collection. 388 responses amounting to 82.9% response rate was …

Adult Healthy Habits, Belinda E. Vicuna, Mahtab Soleimani, Yvonnie Baik, Elena Martinez, Theresa H. Cruz

Reports & Documents

No abstract provided.

Partnering To Change Culture: Advancing Rigor And Transparency In Neurosciences Through Pie Chart, Melissa L. Rethlefsen, Danielle Maurici-Pollock, Leah Everitt, Will White, Ingrid Hendrix, Alexa Copeland, Sam Mckenzie, C W. Shuttleworth

PIE CHART

PIE CHART (Policies, Infrastructure, and Education to CHAmpion Rigor and Transparency) is a new program seeking to develop, test, and iterate sustainable models for improving the culture of rigor and transparency within the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. This program is a unique partnership between the Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center and the Department of Neurosciences. This partnership enables departmental interventions, but also aims to benefit the broader community at the University of New Mexico. Using the Center for Open Science's Strategy for Culture Change framework, PIE CHART aims to incentivize rigorous and transparent neuroscience research through …

Pie Chart Overview And Tenure And Promotion, Melissa L. Rethlefsen

PIE CHART

This presentation gives an overview of PIE CHART and additional material relating to open science in tenure and promotion. Materials included in this project were supported by the National Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number RC2NS138557. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Rock Pigeon (Columba Livia), Bill Pranty, Ann Hodgson, Florida Ornithological Society

Family 01: Columbidae

Native to mountainous regions of Eurasia and northern Africa (where rare and declining as a wild species), Rock Pigeons are a human commensal found worldwide except they are absent from Antarctica.

Experimental Investigations Of Cataract-Related Visual Degradation, Intraocular Lens Optics And Dynamic Stability, Sherrie Choy

School of Health Professions Theses

Cataract commonly occurs in older adults and is associated with degraded vision, impaired mobility and increased risk of falls. Cataract surgery restores transparency of the optical media by replacing the natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Modern toric and aspheric IOLs can improve optical quality and refractive outcomes; yet their potential impact on dynamic balance and fall risk is not well understood. This thesis used an experimental research methodology to examine how controlled changes in visual quality, arising from simulated cataract and from differences in IOL design, toric alignment and aberration profile, influence dynamic stability and gaze behaviour, …

Implementing Bespoke Assistive Technologies: An Approach For Successful Introduction And Use Of Assistive Technology In Supported Living For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities., Benjamin Morris

School of Health Professions Theses

Background: While the potential of assistive technologies for improving the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities is well documented, successful implementation of these technologies is a complex challenge. Adoption-and-use-models of assistive technology are a key method to guide such adoption technology, however no specific model for supported living of those with intellectual-disability existed prior to this research. The research aimed to investigate how bespoke digital assistive technologies can be implemented in the supported living environment for people with intellectual disabilities. Three primary outputs were produced in order to address the research question. 1. A theoretical model that explains the barriers …

Stimuli Development To Measure Parafoveal Contrast Sensitivity In Age-Related Macular Degeneration At Varying Luminance Levels, Joao Alhada Lourenco

School of Health Professions Theses

Age-related macular degeneration is a common ocular condition in the older adult population, being the leading cause of visual impairments in industrialised countries. The prevalence of age-related macular degeneration is expected to increase along with increased life-expectancy. The early stages of age-related macular degeneration often present no noticeable symptoms; however, visual function may be impaired, particularly under low light conditions. An initial impairment tends to occur in the parafoveal region where rod photoreceptors are denser, as these photoreceptors were shown to be more prone to dysfunction than cone photoreceptors in early stages of age-related macular degeneration. Therefore, testing for this …

Making The Implicit Explicit: Leadership In Primary Care Dental Practice, Sally Hanks, Debby R.E. Cotton

Peninsula Dental School

Objectives: This paper reports on research aimed at understanding leadership activities in primary care dental practice, an under-explored area within the extant literature. Methods: The research employed a qualitative, exploratory paradigm, using Video Reflexive Ethnography (VRE) and Activity Theory (AT) to capture the lived experiences of seven participating dentists. Results: The research outlines the ways in which dentists demonstrate leadership skills in their daily work, identifying three interacting activity systems that define leadership in this setting: Patient Care (PC), Running the Surgery (RS), and Running the Practice (RP). Findings emphasise that leadership is directly related to patient care and is …

Educational Interventions To Prepare Undergraduate Students For Out-Of-Hours Practice As A Newly Qualified Doctor In The United Kingdom: A Scoping Review, Alex Gordon, Molly Parkinson, Rosanna Watts, Kamal El-Badawi, Erin Dawson, Rohan Chiktara, Lorna Burns, Nicola Brennan

Peninsula Dental School

Background: In the United Kingdom (UK), newly qualified doctors are routinely responsible for out-of-hours (OOH) care, often managing acutely unwell patients with limited supervision. Despite national recommendations encouraging OOH experience during medical school training, there is no formal curriculum for OOH practice. Objectives: This scoping review aimed to identify the range of educational interventions designed to prepare UK medical students for OOH clinical responsibilities and assess their reported effects on perceived and actual preparedness. Methods: Following Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, a systematic search of seven databases and grey literature sources was conducted. Eligible studies involved UK-based medical students and reported …

Prevalence And Determinants Of Diabetes-Related Psychological Distress In A Tertiary Care Setting In Tamil Nadu: India: Cross-Sectional Study, Rohit Shankar, Samuel Tromans

Peninsula Medical School

BackgroundDiabetes distress, whereby people with diabetes experience distressing psychological symptoms associated with living with their condition, is an emerging problem in India. Diabetes distress leads to self-care deficits, suboptimal glycaemic control (which can lead to increasing risks of complications) and impaired quality of life.AimsTo determine the burden of diabetes distress and its associated factors in an Indian tertiary care centre in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India, covering a population of 1.25 million.MethodThis prospective observational study involved a structured questionnaire covering demographic and clinical details, which was given to patients. The Diabetes Distress Scale 17 (DDS-17) was used to assess diabetes distress …

Involving Parents In Prevention: A Case Example Of Research And Intervention Development To Improve Financial Well-Being Support, Nick Axford, Gisella Hanley, Rebecca Summers, Kristin Liabo, Amy Bond, Eleanor Bryant, Georgia Smith, Rachel Silcock, Vashti Berry

Peninsula Medical School

The adverse effects on parent and child outcomes of poverty and stressors associated with low income are well established. With notable exceptions, however, the potential role of frontline services in improving family financial well-being is underexplored. This article outlines how patient and public involvement (PPI) was initiated early on in research on financial well-being support (FWbS). It illustrates how research can build on and integrate what parents say about services and how to research them. The involvement work was undertaken in one city in part to inform the adaptation of an income maximisation service to be delivered in local children’s …

Investigating The Impact Of Carboxylated Polystyrene Nanoplastics In The Liver Using Cell Lines And Precision-Cut Liver Slices, Namrata Pandey, Paula Boeira, Nathaniel J. Clark, Eleanor T. Walker, Somaiah Aroori, Jemimah Denson, Richard C. Thompson, Matthew E. Cramp, Shilpa Chokshi, Ashwin Dhanda

Peninsula Medical School

Background and Aims: Increasing reports of plastic accumulation in human tissue have raised concerns about potential adverse health outcomes. Evidence of negative effects of nanoplastics is heterogeneous and provides limited insights into the underlying pathogenic toxicity mechanisms in humans. Methods: In the present study, carboxylate-modified fluorescently labelled polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs) were used to investigate uptake and cytotoxicity in three different hepatic models of varying complexity, including HepG2 cells, IHH cells, and human precision-cut liver slices (hPCLS). Results: The results show model- and dose-dependent effects on hepatocytes. 74.2% ± 13.4% of the IHH cells showed PS NPs uptake at 0.1 …

Microplastics, Nanoplastics And Liver Disease: An Emerging Health Concern?, Shilpa Chokshi, Ashwin Dhanda, Matthew E. Cramp, Richard Thompson

Peninsula Medical School

Human liver tissue has been found to contain microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs), with evidence that hepatic MNP accumulation has markedly increased over the past 10 years, prompting critical questions regarding their potential causal role in liver disease. In cell-based and murine models, MNP exposure can trigger oxidative stress, fibrogenesis and inflammation, pathological features that resemble those of advanced liver disease, suggesting shared mechanistic pathways. Furthermore, the capacity for MNPs to act as vectors for microbial pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, endocrine-disrupting chemicals and carcinogenic additives might have important implications for liver pathology. This Perspective examines emerging evidence on the consequences of MNPs …

Royal College Of Psychiatrists College Report 244: Optimising Psychotropic Medication Prescribing For People With Intellectual Disability, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

No abstract provided.

Policy Brief For All-Party Parliamentary Group (Appg) On Autism: National Implementation Of Systemic Family Therapy For Autism, Becky Stancer

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

Addressing the Crisis of Premature Mortality and Family Trauma in Autism through Systemic Intervention.

Antigypsyism: Foundations Of An Ideology Of Hatred Towards Roma, Fernando Ruiz Molina, Zoë James

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

Roma communities represent the largest ethnic minority in Europe (European Parliamentary Research Service, 2021), dating their presence from the fourteenth century onwards (Council of Europe [CoE], 2012a; CoE n.d.-a; End, 2012).¹Accord-ing to the Council of Europe, it is estimated that the population of Roma citizens living currently in Europe is around 10 to 12 million (CoE, 2012a). Despite their long-standing presence in European countries, Roma are hated within their own countries. From Eastern to Western Europe, animosity towards Roma centres on public acceptance of stereotypes of their criminality and lifestyles, leading to this minority group experiencing the most bias-motivated crime …

A Historical Analysis Of The Squatter Settlements (Sukumbasi) In Nepal And The Role Of Smart Settlements, Keshav Bhattarai, Ambika P. Adhikari

Himalayan Research Papers Archive

In Nepal, landless populations can broadly be categorized into two groups: urban squatters and rural landless families. Each group can further be distinguished by its level of political connection and access to power.

Among urban squatters, politically connected groups often occupy open public spaces in cities with some degree of protection or tolerance from political parties. In contrast, less powerful urban squatters usually settle on public land because they cannot afford formal housing. These settlements are commonly located in unsafe or marginal areas, such as riverbanks, flood-prone zones, and unused public spaces. Despite these risks, many remain in urban areas …

Front Matter, Natural Resources Journal Nrj

Natural Resources Journal

No abstract provided.

Comparing Microgrids With Nuclear Energy: Which Is Better To Catapult New York Toward Its Green Energy Future?, Justin R. Ochs

Natural Resources Journal

This Note examines New York’s climate goals under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) by comparing two pivotal energy solutions: nuclear energy and microgrids. Microgrids remain notably underexplored in legal scholarship, particularly their potential to achieve compliance with the CLCPA. By analyzing the economic, environmental, regulatory, and public perception challenges associated with nuclear energy and microgrids, this Note argues that microgrids offer a safer, more flexible, and sustainable option for accelerating New York’s path toward its green energy future. This Note evaluates microgrid projects across New York, along with common critiques regarding the scalability and viability of hybrid …

Off-Label Abuse: The Prosecution Of Individuals For Pesticide Crimes Under The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, And Rodenticide Act, Joshua Ozymy, Melissa Jarrell Ozymy

Natural Resources Journal

When individuals commit pesticide crimes involving significant harm or culpable conduct, they may be prosecuted for criminal violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), but we have little knowledge of how individual offenders have been prosecuted historically for such crimes. Using content analysis of 2,728 environmental crime prosecutions resulting from U.S. EPA criminal investigations, 1983 to 2021, we select all cases of individuals prosecuted under FIFRA for our analysis. We find that 100 cases were adjudicated, resulting in 135 years of probation, 75 years of incarceration, and $4.2 million in monetary penalties assessed at sentencing. Of those …

Cobalt's Climate Paradox: Global Ambitions For A Greener Future Rely On Blood-Stained Hands, Ashleigh Wootton

Natural Resources Journal

The global effort to mitigate climate change increasingly relies on widespread electrification, with lithium-ion batteries at its core and the key minerals required for their production concentrated in countries uniquely vulnerable to exploitation. Lithium-ion battery production relies heavily on cobalt, a critical mineral primarily sourced from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which supplies approximately 70 percent of the world’s cobalt. As demand for cobalt is projected to rise sharply, the DRC has become indispensable to the global clean energy transition. Cobalt extraction in the DRC is closely linked to severe human rights abuses, including forced labor, child labor, …

Lower Suicidal Ideation Linked To Easier Access To Urban Green Spaces During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Study In Japan, Zheng Xian, Tomoki Nakaya, Clive E. Sabel, Ryo Okubo, Kun Liu, Jinguang Zhang, Takahiro Tabuchi

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Urban green spaces (UGSs) have been linked to improved mental health and lower suicide rates, yet their protective role during large-scale crises remains underexplored. We examined associations of UGS accessibility with long-term and pandemic induced new-onset suicidal ideation during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in urban Japan, using data from a nationwide health survey of 17,376 participants (August 2020). Modified Poisson regression models estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) for suicidal ideation by UGS accessibility (area, number, and type) within 5, 10, and 15-minute walking thresholds from home, controlling for individual and area-level confounders. UGS accessibility exhibited dose-response relationships with …