Digital Commons Network^™

Measuring The Effectiveness Of Internship Programs In Aligning Education With Industry During Covid-19: A Case Study, Fokiya Akhtar, Tarannum Parkar

All Works

This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of internship programs in aligning education with industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research focuses on the internship outcomes of College of Communication and Media Sciences (CCMS) students in various UAE organizations. This study employs Kirkpatrick's framework and analyzes 64 student reports over ten weeks to understand the strengths and areas of improvement in aligning academic instruction with real- world applications. The research focuses on the reaction and learning constructs in the alignment of theoretical teachings with practical experiences based on Kirkpatrick's framework. The study revealed that internships offer students a chance to …

The Effectiveness Of A Proposed Guide To Improve The Role Of Parents In Developing Their Kindergarten Children English Language Skills, Laila Mohebi, Ghadah Al Murshidi, Asmaa Awad, Bushra Areashi, Ahmed Al Zaabi, Ahlam Hendawy

All Works

The aim of this study is to explore United Arab Emirates (UAE) parents’ perceptions of their involvement in their kindergarten children’s English language learning as a second language (L2) and the challenges they face. The study consisted of two phases: the first investigated the role of 329 parents using a questionnaire, revealing a strong need for guidance on how to support their children’s English learning. The second phase assessed the effectiveness of a structured educational guide. Pre/post-test results showed that the guide enhanced parents’ abilities to teach English as an L2 and apply strategies aligned with their children’s learning styles.

Streamlining Digital Elevation Model Construction From Historical Aerial Photographs: The Impact Of Reference Elevation Data On Spatial Accuracy, Xin Hong, Christopher H. Roosevelt

All Works

This study proposes a streamlined workflow for producing historical digital elevation models (hDEMs) from scanned 1950s aerial photographs using structure-from-motion and multi-view-stereo (SfM-MVS) techniques along with co-registration methods. We also conducted a sensitivity analysis to assess the impact of DEM references with varying spatial resolutions on the SfM-MVS process and co-registration accuracy. The DEM references included a 30 m SRTM DEM (low resolution), a 12 m TanDEM-X DEM (medium resolution), and a 5 m DEM provided by the General Directorate of Mapping of the Ministry of National Defense, Republic of T & uuml;rkiye (high resolution). Results indicate that higher resolution …

Science Education In The Age Of Misinformation, Elissar Gerges

All Works

No abstract provided.

Association Of Socio-Demographic Factors, Perinatal Characteristics, And Hospital Maternity Practices With Breastfeeding Outcomes In The Uae, Zainab Taha, Farid El Ktaibi, Rafiq Hijazi

All Works

Breastfeeding (BF) rates remain suboptimal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), despite global and national efforts. This study examined the association of socio-demographic factors, perinatal characteristics, and hospital maternity practices with breastfeeding outcomes in the UAE. In this cross-sectional study, 1,815 participating mothers with children below the age of 2 answered structured questions related to socioeconomics, hospital practices, and BF. Multivariate analysis showed that a non-Emirati nationality and vaginal birth were significantly associated with higher initiation rates (AOR = 6.19, 95% CI 1.96–19.54 and AOR = 2.65, 95% CI 1.35–5.21, respectively), timely initiation (AOR = 0.48, 95%CI 0.35–0.66, respectively), longer …

Enhancing Brand Equity Through Branded Content Experience On Social Media: Developing And Testing A Moderated Mediation Model, Muhammad Waqas, Muhammad Adnan Waseem, Nauman Wajid, Irfan Irfan

Plymouth Business School

This study examined the relationship between branded content experience and brand equity by focusing on the mediating role of brand trust and the moderating role of consumer regret of interacting with branded content on social media. In testing the hypotheses proposed in this study, survey data were drawn from a sample of social media users and examined through structural equation modeling. The results indicate that branded content experience positively influences brand equity directly and indirectly via brand trust. In addition, moderated path analysis indicated that regret weakens the direct effect of branded content experience on brand trust and its indirect …

Zynfluencers: Decoding The New Wave Of Nicotine Culture On Tiktok, Abbie Walls, Page D. Dobbs, Susana Rodriguez Gongora

2025 Research Poster Competition

Significance: This research is crucial for understanding how ZYN, a leader in the rapidly growing nicotine pouch market, influences younger generations through platforms like TikTok. With the nicotine pouch industry projected to grow from $1.99 billion in 2022 to $22.98 billion by 2030, ZYNfluencers play a key role in shaping trends, building brand loyalty, and attracting new users. This phenomenon poses a challenge to tobacco control policies, as marketing strategies targeting youth—potentially with modified risk claims—could undermine efforts to limit nicotine's appeal. By examining ZYN’s impact on social media, this study highlights the need for updated regulations to address the …

Edible Algae Reduce Blood Pressure In Humans: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomised Controlled Trials, Patricia Casas-Agustench, Sandra Mínguez, Zoe Brookes, Raul Bescos

School of Health Professions

BACKGROUND: Edible algae contain bioactive compounds such as peptides, fucoidan, polyphenols, potassium, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants that may benefit cardiovascular health, particularly in lowering blood pressure (BP) regulation. Certain species, including Nori and Kelp, are also rich in inorganic nitrate, known for its BP-lowering effects. However, the relationship between algae consumption and hypertension remains controversial. This study evaluated the effects of edible algae on BP in humans, considering factors such as algae type, format, dosage, intervention duration, health status, and baseline BP.

METHODS: A systematic search of Medline-Pubmed, Scopus and Cochrane databases was conducted through December 2024. Randomised controlled …

Geopolitical Changes And Futures Of Ccamlr, Nengye Liu

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CAMLR Convention) was negotiated in the late 1970s in the shadow of the Soviet Union’s expanding interest in Antarctic krill fisheries. The development of a management regime for the krill fishery in the remote Southern Ocean vividly reflects geopolitical changes of the world at that time. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) is similarly being affected by geopolitical forces from the wider international system today. This chapter therefore first reviews the historical background for the establishment of the CCAMLR. It then provides an overview of …

University Students' Understanding And Utilization Of Food Labels: A Cross-Sectional Study, Sharifa Alblooshi, Linda Smail, Asya Aldayyani, Falak Zeb, Alia Ibrahim

All Works

Introduction: This study is aimed at investigating Zayed University students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) regarding food labels and at identifying key predictors of food label use through logistic regression analysis.Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional study used a validated questionnaire to elicit data on KAPs regarding the use of nutritional information and food labels. This study was conducted from January to May 2023 in the UAE among students from Zayed University. A total of 1153 students aged 18 and above from Zayed University participated in the study. They were recruited using snowball sampling. Descriptive statistics were obtained using the Statistical Package …

Explicit Inverse Of Symmetric, Tridiagonal Near Toeplitz Matrices With Strictly Diagonally Dominant Toeplitz Part, Bakytzhan Kurmanbek, Yogi Erlangga, Yerlan Amanbek

All Works

Let T n = tridiag ( - 1 , b , - 1 ) , an n x n symmetric, strictly diagonally dominant tridiagonal matrix ( divided by b divided by > 2 ). This article investigates tridiagonal near-Toeplitz matrices T n & colone; [ t i , j ] , obtained by perturbing the ( 1 , 1 ) and ( n , n ) entry of T n . Let t 1 , 1 = t n , n = b not equal b . We derive exact inverses of T n . Furthermore, we demonstrate that these results …

Prevalence, Phenotype, And Correlates Of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Symptoms In The Gulf Cooperation Council: An Underserved Region, Bernou Melisse, Hassan Fakhri, Lynne Kennedy, Maria J. Figueiras, Munirah Alshebali, Hala Abu Taha, Carine El Khazen, Dalal Alkazemi, Sandra Mulkens

All Works

Introduction: Prevalence estimates and correlates of ARFID in non-Western samples are lacking. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of ARFID symptoms, identify its phenotypes, and explore its correlates in a community sample from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Method: Participants were parents of children aged 4–13 years (n = 87) and individuals of ≥ 14 years old (n = 433). They completed the Pica, ARFID, and Rumination Disorder Interview-ARFID-Questionnaire (PARDI-AR-Q), the Nine Item ARFID Screen (NIAS) and the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Multiple regression analyses were performed with body mass index or its standard deviation score, comorbid psychopathology, EDE-Q …

Designing Ai To Foster Acceptance: Do Freedom To Choose And Social Proof Impact Ai Attitudes Among British And Arab Populations?, Sameha Alshakhsi, Mohamed Basel Almourad, Areej Babkir, Dena Al-Thani, Ala Yankouskaya, Christian Montag, Raian Ali

All Works

This study examines the impact of two key AI modalities–freedom of choice (FoC) and social proof (SP)–on public attitudes toward AI, focusing on cultural differences between UK and Arab participants. FoC refers to the option of selecting a non-AI, possibly human, alternative, while SP means knowing that others have used AI without issues. Four scenarios were designed, combining the presence or absence of these modalities. The context was a customer service chatbot for a telecommunications company, familiar to all participants. A total of 639 participants (316 British and 323 Arab) were introduced to the modalities and then the scenarios in …

Examining The Role Of Prompt Engineering In Utilizing Generative Ai Tools For Lesson Planning: Insights From Teachers’ Experiences And Perceptions, Areej Elsayary, Mohammad Amin Kuhail, Zeina Hojeij

All Works

The purpose of this study is to explore the role of prompt engineering in utilizing GenAI tools like EduAid, Magic School, and ChatGPT to enhance lesson planning efficiency and content relevance. Additionally, it highlights the need for AI literacy and continuous professional development to align AI outputs with diverse student needs. A qualitative case study was used to collect data from 17 high school teachers from private and governmental schools. Document analysis, written reflections, and focus group talks were used as data sources to get detailed information about how the teachers used and thought about GenAI tools. The results show …

Leveraging Sentiment Analysis Of Food Delivery Services Reviews Using Deep Learning And Word Embedding, Dheya Mustafa, Safaa M. Khabour, Mousa Al-Kfairy, Ahmed Shatnawi

All Works

Companies that deliver food (food delivery services, or FDS) try to use customer feedback to identify aspects where the customer experience could be improved. Consumer feedback on purchasing and receiving goods via online platforms is a crucial tool for learning about a company’s performance. Many English-language studies have been conducted on sentiment analysis (SA). Arabic is becoming one of the most extensively written languages on the World Wide Web, but because of its morphological and grammatical difficulty as well as the lack of openly accessible resources for Arabic SA, like as dictionaries and datasets, there has not been much research …

Acceptance And Commitment Training For Reducing Aggressive Behaviors For Children Diagnosed With Externalizing Disorders, Isabelle C. Rodriguez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) is a contemporary mindfulness intervention traditionally practiced in psychotherapy but recently has been adopted by practitioners in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) due to its functional foundation and theoretical grounding in Relational Frame Theory (RFT). ACT interventions are tailored to develop and continually exercise an individual's psychological flexibility while, in turn, decrease levels of experiential avoidance (EA). Literature surrounding ACT and its applications in ABA showcase data supporting its effectiveness for treating a diverse range of behaviors. Elevated levels of EA have been linked to a variety of maladaptive behaviors, one being aggression. Aggression is a …

A Social-Ecological Justice Approach To Ecotourism: Examples From Cockpit Country, Jamaica, Laurel Ann C. Curry

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Ecotourism aims to support local social, ecological, and economic systems sustainably, but its implementation often perpetuates social and environmental injustices. This work applies a new social-ecological justice (SEJ) framework to ecotourism, combining Pope et al.’s holistic approach with principles like ecological stewardship, economic repositioning, and collaboration tailored to specific contexts. Importantly, basic capabilities for full functioning of humans and other species were used in this research to measure areas of justice and injustice. Using a case study approach with the Southern Trelawny Environmental Agency (STEA) in Jamaica's Cockpit Country, co-created interview data were analyzed to evaluate its ecotourism program’s alignment …

The Relationship Between Principals’ Transformational Leadership And Teachers’ Organizational Citizenship Behavior Within Public Primary And Middle Schools In Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China, Chuxuan Yin

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This non-experimental causal-comparative study was designed to explore the relationship between principals’ transformational leadership and teachers’ organizational citizenship behavior within public primary and middle schools in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China, as well as the differences in principals’ transformational leadership and teachers’ organizational citizenship behavior based on demographic characteristics. A sample of 142 principals and 675 teachers was recruited. Data collection utilized two validated instruments: the Transformational Leadership Questionnaire for evaluating principals’ transformational leadership level, and the Organizational Citizenship Behavior Scale for Primary and Middle School Teachers for measuring teachers’ organizational citizenship behavior level. Both descriptive statistics (frequency distribution, mean, standard …

As Above, So Below: Environmental Justice Stories Of Seeds, Mining And Migration, Cassidy M. Motahari

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Environmental justice issues directly impact the health, cultural heritage and livelihoods of communities. This multimedia master’s project examines how federal policies, legal frameworks and the prioritization of corporate interests perpetuate environmental justice issues in the western United States. Three distinct stories provide a more nuanced understanding of the impact of systemic inequities on seed saving, mineral extraction and humanitarian aid on public lands.

With four companies controlling over 60 percent of the global seed market, declining genetic diversity in seeds limits the potential to cultivate and develop crops that meet the regional and cultural needs of diverse growers. In a …

Worn History: The Biography And Value Transformation Of Emma Sansaver's Dress, Lauren I. Stgeorge

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This thesis examines the life of Emma Sansaver’s beaded buckskin dress as both a material object and a cultural witness. Worn during her time at the Fort Shaw Government Industrial Indian Boarding School and the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, the dress intersects with assimilationist policy, Indigenous resilience, public spectacle, and personal memory. Unlike the regalia of her teammates, Emma’s dress was preserved, first by Emma herself, then by her descendants, and continues to be cared for and displayed in educational and institutional settings today.

Using the theoretical frameworks of Arjun Appadurai and Igor Kopytoff, this project approaches the dress …

Authenticity Can Be Costly: Understanding School Belonging Among Latine Immigrant High School Students, Deborah A. Ith

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

School belonging is strongly associated with positive outcomes, including overall wellness and higher educational attainment. These outcomes can have lasting impacts on the lives of students. The construct of school belonging is defined as the degree to which a student feels accepted, supported, valued, and comfortable expressing themselves authentically within the school community. Students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, especially recent immigrants, often have experiences within the school setting that interfere with the development of a strong sense of school belonging. Unfortunately, much of the prior research on school belonging has relied on survey data, correlational studies, or teacher …

Echoes Of Heritage: Understanding The Impact Of Subtractive Bilingualism On Emotional Well-Being And Bicultural Identity In First- And Second-Generation Immigrants, Anna Reszewicz

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The effects of emotional well-being and cultural identity have been widely examined, yet little research has examined these outcomes among subtractive bilinguals. This study aimed to fill the gap in the literature by exploring the relationship between emotional well-being and bicultural identity among first- and second-generation immigrants in the United States who were identified as subtractive bilinguals and non-subtractive bilinguals. Subtractive bilinguals are defined as individuals who learn a second language (L2) while experiencing a decline in proficiency or usage of their heritage language (L1). Using self-report measures, 170 participants were recruited and completed an eligibility survey that included the …

Tactile Kinaesthetic Methods Without Abdominal Pressure Promoting Gastrointestinal Passage In Preterm Infants: A Scoping Review, Natalie Hurst, Jos M. Latour, Christian F. Poets, Christoph E. Schwarz

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background: Tactile kinaesthetic stimulation (TKS) might support enteral feeding and meconium excretion in preterm infants, but volvulus has been linked to abdominal massage. Aim: To map the evidence and to identify knowledge gaps on TKS in preterm infants. Methods: A scoping review was conducted in August 2024 using four databases. Results: Ten studies (totaling 268 infants weighing 1000–2500g at birth) met inclusion criteria. All studies utilized whole-body TKS, involving stroking and movement with moderate to gentle pressure, administered 1 to 3 times daily by staff. Starting TKS in the first days of life seemed to improve meconium excretion, while later …

Measuring Variation In Gaze Following Across Communities, Ages, And Individuals: A Showcase Of Tango-Cc (Task For Assessing Individual Differences In Gaze Understanding-Open-Cross-Cultural), Julia Christin Prein, Florian M. Bednarski, Ardain Dzabatou, Michael C. Frank, Annette M.E. Henderson, Josefine Kalbitz, Patricia Kanngiesser, Dilara Keşşafoğlu, Bahar Köymen, Maira V. Manrique-Hernandez, Shirley Magazi, Lizbeth Mújica-Manrique, Julia Ohlendorf, Damilola Olaoba, Wesley R. Pieters, Sarah Pope-Caldwell, Umay Sen, Katie Slocombe, Robert Z. Sparks, Roman Stengelin, Jahnavi Sunderarajan, Kirsten Sutherland, Florence Tusiime, Wilson Vieira, Zhen Zhang, Yufei Zong, Daniel B.M. Haun, Manuel Bohn

School of Psychology

Cross-cultural studies are crucial for investigating the cultural variability and universality of cognitive developmental processes. However, cross-cultural assessment tools in cognition across languages and communities are limited. In this article, we describe a gaze-following task designed to measure basic social cognition across individuals, ages, and communities (the Task for Assessing iNdividual differences in Gaze understanding-Open-Cross-Cultural; TANGO-CC). The task was developed and psychometrically assessed in one cultural setting and, with input of local collaborators, adapted for cross-cultural data collection. Minimal language demands and the web-app implementation allow fast and easy contextual adaptations to each community. TANGO-CC captures individual- and community-level variation …

Nature Contact And Health Risk Behaviours: Results From An 18 Country Study, Leanne Martin, Mathew P. White, Sabine Pahl, Jon May

School of Psychology

Emerging evidence suggests that residential greenspace is associated with a lower prevalence of health risk behaviours, but it remains unclear whether these effects are generalizable across countries or different types of nature contact. Using representative cross-sectional samples from 18 countries/regions, we examined the associations between two types of nature contact (greenspace, nature visits), current smoking and everyday drinking. After controlling for a range of covariates, greenspace was inversely associated with current smoking and everyday drinking. Visiting natural spaces at least once a week was linked to a lower prevalence of current smoking, but unrelated to everyday drinking. Increasing residential greenspace …

Cross-Cultural Data On Romantic Love And Mate Preferences From 117,293 Participants Across 175 Countries, Marta Kowal, Piotr Sorokowski, Biljana Gjoneska, Katarzyna Pisanski, Gerit Pfuhl, Leonardo Aguilar, Steve M.J. Janssen, Benjamin Gelbart, Patrícia Arriaga, Jan Antfolk, Katarina Zvončáková, Linda H. Lidborg, Jorge Contreras-Garduño, Mikhail V. Kozlov, Taciano L. Milfont, Marco A.C. Varella, Valerija Križanić, Mahmoud Boussena, Tina Kavčič, Diana Ribeiro Da Silva, Brahim Hamdaoui, Fatima Zahra Sahli, Karlijn Massar, Eliane Deschrijver, Tatsunori Ishii, Hakan Cetinkaya, Oksana Senyk, Farida Guemaz, Koen Ponnet, Yahya Don

School of Psychology

Psychological studies on close relationships have often overlooked cultural diversity, dynamic processes, and potentially universal principles that shape intimate partnerships. To address the limited generalizability of previous research and advance our understanding of romantic love experiences, mate preferences, and physical attractiveness, we conducted a large-scale cross-cultural survey study on these topics. A total of 404 researchers collected data in 45 languages from April to August 2021, involving 117,293 participants from 175 countries. Aside from standard demographic questions, the survey included valuable information on variables relevant to romantic relationships: intimate, passionate, and committed love within romantic relationships, physical-attractiveness enhancing behaviors, gender …

Clinical Decision Making And Risk Appraisal Using Electronic Risk Assessment Tools For Cancer Diagnosis: A Qualitative Study Of Gp Experiences, Alex Burns, Emily Fletcher, Elizabeth Shephard, Raff Calitri, Mark Tarrant, Adrian Mercer, William Hamilton, Sarah Dean

School of Psychology

Background: Electronic risk assessment tools (eRATs) are intended to improve early primary care cancer diagnosis. eRATs, which interrupt a consultation to suggest a possibility of a cancer diagnosis, could impact clinical appraisal and the experience of the consultation. This study explores this issue using data collected within the context of the Electronic RIsk-assessment for CAncer (ERICA) trial. Aim: To explore views and experiences of GPs who used the ERICA eRATs, how the tools impacted their perception of risk and diagnostic thinking, and how this was communicated to patients. Design & setting: Qualitative interviews with GPs from English general practices undertaking …

“Being Away From Everything”: Exploring The Importance Of Access To Nature For Individuals Living With Chronic Low Back Pain, Alexander Smith, Kayleigh Wyles, Patricia Schofield, Sam Hughes

School of Psychology

Chronic low back pain is a persistent and debilitating condition, and therapeutic outcomes in the long term are generally poor. There is growing evidence to support the ineffectiveness of ‘one-size-fits-all’ pharmacological approaches to pain management. To that end, alternative non-pharmacological therapies such as green social prescribing and time spent in nature are gaining popularity. But it is imperative to understand to what extent these potential interventions are viable by gaining a deeper insight into the lived experiences of the chronic low back pain community. The present qualitative cross-sectional study employed ten semi-structured interviews (9 women, M age = 50.1, M …

The Passing Of A Giant In Proteoglycan Research: Robert J. Linhardt (1953–2025), Renato V. Iozzo, Fuming Zhang, Paul L. Deangelis

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Ecotoxicological Effects Of Sunscreen Derived Organic And Inorganic Uv Filters On Marine Organisms: A Critical Review, Anneliese A. Hodge, Frances E. Hopkins, Mahasweta Saha, Awadhesh N. Jha

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Sunscreens are topical personal care products that provide protection against the sun's ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. Ultraviolet (UV) filters are compounds added to sunscreens to block, absorb, or reflect the sun's UV rays, but are of major emerging concern due to their widespread use and global distribution. They pose a significant risk to marine organisms owing to their chemical properties, including high lipophilicity which increases their bioavailability. The present review identifies and summarises the factors that contribute to UV filter pollution, their sources, pathways, and effects on marine organisms. We identify and evaluate the current knowledge …