Digital Commons Network^™

Let’S Jettison Some Executive Perks: Exploring The Sec And Irs Approaches To Personal Use Of Corporate Aircraft, Christine Lane

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

In 2023, 46% of the S&P 500 companies provided personal use of corporate aircraft to their chief executive officers, and 31% provided this perk to other named executive officers. This type of executive compensation has notoriously garnered much attention from the media, given the large amount of investor money spent on personal travel and the environmental impacts of flying private. In addition, the line between personal travel and business travel is often blurred, and the media has tracked flight paths of corporate aircraft to speculate that some flights may be incorrectly categorized as business trips when the jets land and …

What Does It Mean To "Humanize" Online Teaching?, Dana L. Rognlie, Kathryn E. Frazier, Elizabeth A. Siler

Philosophy Faculty Publications

[Introduction] "Humanizing" the online classroom is widely acknowledged as a feminist goal (e.g., Pacansky-Brock et al., 2020). Yet the project of humanizing has a complex history in the academy and beyond, with elements of this history often misaligned or directly opposed to what might be considered "feminist" goals. Feminist philosophers have long critiqued the neutral-human-as-masculine default (Beauvoir, 2010; Irigaray, 1993; Lloyd, 1993), and decolonial and antiracist scholars have highlighted the racist legacy of projects that aim to qualify humanity (Cameron, 2021) and of programs designed to humanize the Other (Berenstain, 2020, Foucault, 1979; See Malone & Malone, 2015, on the …

Grading Legal Research, Julie Tedjeske Crane

Faculty Scholarship

Law school grading practices often conflict with legal research instruction goals. Small class sizes render norm-referenced (curved) grading unreliable, and the emphasis on ranking students detracts from learning essential skills. Drawing on scholarship on legal education and other disciplines, this article examines several grading approaches that may better serve students and instructors, including criteria-referenced, specification-based, and equitable grading systems. It offers practical suggestions for improving grading practices, such as working with colleagues on assessment design, being intentional about grading formative work, and using anonymous grading. The article concludes with a call for more discussion about grading in legal research courses.

The Application Of 4e Cognition To Counseling And The Intersectional Experiences Of Black Individuals With Disabilities, A. Albright, Clarence K. Bumpas, Jeff Moe

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Black Americans with disabilities experience a range of inequities including barriers to access, social stigmatization, and health outcomes that are greater than both their White and their nondisabled peers. This conceptual article explains in detail these inequities. The authors provide an overview of the existing models of disability used in counseling, healthcare, research, and educational settings, as well as a rationale for why they are limited. The authors then suggest a 4E cognitive framework rooted in cognitive sciences, philosophy of mind, and neuroscience. The authors explain why a 4E cognitive framework may be better suited than existing models to conceptualize …

A Word From The Writing Team (January 2025), Pam Walter, Mfa, Hemma Murali, Ms

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• New Year and a New Consultant at the OPWPC
• Publication Spotlight
• Attend First Friday Writing Retreats (Online)
• Workshop Series: Write that Baby in 9 Weeks
• Waived fees for open access publishing!
• The OPWPC Canvas Page offers helpful tools

Ambulatory Arterial Stiffness Index: Regression Method Comparison And Its Association With Pulse Pressure And Circadian Patterns, José R. Ayala-Hernández, Cristina López-Sánchez, Orlando M. Ayala, Camilo E. Palencia-Tejedor

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The Arterial Stiffness Index (AASI) is a calculation obtained through Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM), and is an indirect measure of the elastic properties of the arterial wall; but there is heterogeneity in its scope as a predictor of vascular wall health. A comparison is made between linear regression and exponential regression of the AASI, as well as an analysis of variance, according to circadian patterns and pulse pressure (PP) values. This work is an analytical observational study in 106 individuals, most of them women (63%) with a mean age of 53 ± 17.32 years. The coefficient of determination (r2) …

Assessing Gender Differences In The Students’ Academic Performance, Aptitude, Emotional Intelligence And Grit, Farheen Nasir, Athari Almuraikhi, Asma Alkusayer, Fatima Saeed, Abdulmohsen Alkushi, Areej S. Alowfi, Muhammad Alghaihab, Faizan Nasir

Health Professions Education

Purpose: This research aimed to assess gender differences in academic performance, aptitude, emotional intelligence, and grit among the students.

Method: The sample included 302 students (250 females and 52 males) from Saudi health sciences institutes, located in Riyadh, Jeddah and Alahsa. Data collection was done through Google Forms which was based on demographic information, Self-Report Measure of Emotional Intelligence and Grit Scales. Results: Statistical analysis was done through STATA-16 by applying ANOVA. Results indicated a significant gender difference in students’ CGPA, aptitude and emotional intelligence. However, there was an insignificant gender difference in students’ grit scores. Conclusion: The findings show …

Role Of Environmental Attitudes And Demographic Factors In Predicting Quality Of Life: The Mediating Role Of Environmental Awareness, Wan Jamaluddin Z, Nanang Supriadi, Suherman Suherman

Health Professions Education

Purpose. The aim of this study was to explore the role of environmental awareness as a mediator in the connections between environmental attitudes, demographic factors, and quality of life.

Method. A total of 397 students in higher education had an average age of 19.1+1.06 years participated in this study. Structural equation modelling was applied for data analysis, revealing satisfactory construct validity and instrument reliability.

Results. The finding highlighted a both environmental attitudes and awareness has positive association with quality of life, while demographic factors were anticipated to positively relate to it. Interestingly, environmental awareness acted as a mediator between demographic …

Peer Study Groups In Medical School: Insights From A Mixed-Methods Exploratory Study, William A. H. Schwartz, Tazim S. Merchant, Isi Sturla, Leah C. Neubauer

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Medical student burnout, exacerbated by the transition to hybrid curricula following the COVID-19 pandemic, underscores the need for interventions fostering social and academic support. While peer study groups have shown promise in promoting emotional resilience, their impact within medical education remains underexplored. This study examines the effectiveness of a student-led peer study group program among first-year medical students.

Methods: First-year students at a Midwestern medical school (n=146) were invited to participate in peer study groups and matched based on preferences for group structure and goals. Participants attended structured, semi-structured, or free-form groups over four weeks. A mixed-methods …

Procedural Skills Gaps And Ultrasound Training In Saudi Medical Interns: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Rajkumar Rajendram, Abdullah Abdulrahman Alshamrani, Waleed Khalid Jarwan, Afnan Ali Alghamdi, Arif Hussain

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Medical internships lay the foundation for physicians' careers. While the scope of medical practice has broadened, the emphasis on procedural skills remains crucial. However, concerns persist regarding the adequacy of current internship training programs, particularly in the context of the increasing importance of ultrasound-guided procedures (UGPs). This study aims to assess the perceived relevance of procedural skills training and identify skill gaps among medical interns at our institution.

Aim: To assess medical interns' perceptions of the relevance of procedural skills training, with a specific focus on ultrasound guidance and to identify skill gaps within the internship program at our …

A Scoping Review Of Student-Faculty Interactions And Their Impact On Health Professions Students' Mental Health, Paolo Miguel P. Bulan, Maria Concepcion C. Cabatan, Elena Wong Espiritu

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Student-faculty interactions significantly impact academic experiences and mental health in health professions education. Understanding how these interactions are defined, their contexts, and impact on mental health is essential for developing educational interventions and strategies to enhance student-faculty interactions and support student mental health. This scoping review aims to explore: (1) how student-faculty interactions are defined within health professions education, (2) the contexts of these interactions, (3) their impact on students' mental health, and (4) the programs or interventions related to student-faculty interactions offered by universities to support student mental health.

Methods: A search was conducted across databases including EBSCO, …

Social Network Sites: Use, Perception Of Addiction And Health Risks Among Nursing Students In Meknes Morocco, Rachida Archou, Meriem Ouadrhiri, Rajae Lamsyah, Maryem Rhanoui, Mustapha Boucetta, Mounia Mikram, Kamelia Amazian, Rachid Aalouane

Health Professions Education

Objectif : Le nombre d'utilisateurs des réseaux sociaux est en constante augmentation et les jeunes représentent la catégorie la plus attirée par ces sites. Cependant, une utilisation incontrôlée des réseaux sociaux peut entraîner de graves problèmes de santé physique et psychologique. Par conséquent, cette étude vise à déterminer la dépendance perçue aux réseaux sociaux et son impact sur la santé des étudiants infirmiers marocains.

Méthodes : Il s'agit d'une étude transversale. Les données ont été collectées auprès de 300 étudiants infirmiers marocains à l'aide d'un questionnaire auto-administré et pré-testé. Le questionnaire est divisé en trois sections : a) données démographiques, …

Breaking Down Silos: Creating And Implementing A Longitudinal Interprofessional Education Curriculum For Graduate Health Science Professional Students, Robert Wellmon, Jill D. Black, Wendy Wachter-Schutz, Kathleen M. Youse, Adrienne N. Pinckney, Lori L. Felker

Health Professions Education

Background. Accreditation standards for graduate health professional programs require the inclusion of interprofessional learning and collaboration (IPL/C) activities in entry-level curricula. This implementation necessitates collaboration among educators from multiple disciplines and openness to innovation and to educate students in a manner that breaks down uni-professional curriculum silos that are known barriers to the creation of meaningful IPL experiences.

Objective. The purpose of this paper is to describe one institution’s process for creating a longitudinal interprofessional education (IPE) curriculum that aligns with accreditation mandates and meets the call to foster IPC competency skills.

Methods. Widener University established an interprofessional thread of …

The Remote Supervision Road To Registrar Training In Australia - Paving The Path With Pixels And Phones (A Narrative Review)., Nicholas Coburn, Kylie Fitzgerald, Brett Vaughan

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Specialist medical training in rural or remote Australia is limited due to current requirements of specialist medical colleges to supervise and train registrars onsite. Remote supervision, where the registrar is supervised via telephone and videoconferencing technology remotely, offers a solution that allows doctors to train in rural or remote areas. This review describes the opportunities, challenges, and recommendations to pave the path for a best practice model of remote supervision for private practice focused registrar training in Australia which may offer insights for other countries with rural and remote medical workforces.

Methods: Ovid Medline and Ovid Embase were …

Evaluating The Impact Of Orientation On Study Approaches Among First-Year Medical Students: A Quantitative Study In A Rural Us Medical School Using The Modified Assist Questionnaire, Kodjo Agbowou, Dmitry Tumin, Robert Lust, David Gilbert

Health Professions Education

This study explores the impact of medical school orientation on student’s adoption of deep and strategic study approaches. At our rural Southeastern US medical school, the 2023 orientation was redesigned to include comprehensive sessions on study resources, time management, and curriculum structure.

Method

To evaluate the changes in students' study approaches, we used the modified Approaches to Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST) questionnaire before and after orientation. Thirty-seven students completed the pre-orientation survey, and 17 provided complete data for analysis.

Results

At baseline, students showed a stronger preference for the strategic learning approach (median score: 26, IQR: 25–28) compared …

Acceptability, Facilitators And Barriers To Video-Based Learning At A Community Health Officers’ Training School In Nigeria, Mobolanle Balogun, Babatunde Akodu, Tope Olubodun, Victoria Yesufu, Anirejuoritse Chima-Oduko, Olabisi Oderinu, Diane Shoemaker

Health Professions Education

Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the acceptability, facilitators and barriers to video-based learning (VBL) among community health officers (CHOs)-in-training and tutors in a Nigerian school, prior to the introduction of a video-based curriculum.

Methods: This was a mixed-methods cross-sectional study conducted among CHOs and tutors at the CHO training school of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). A survey assessed students’ acceptability of VBL using an adapted framework that integrated Diffusion of Innovation Theory and Technology Acceptance Model. Six key informant interviews and two focus group discussions were conducted among tutors and students respectively. Quantitative data was analysed …

Learning Styles Preferences Among Medical Students: Professional Year, Gender, Residence And Educational System Based Comparative Analysis, Rizwan Faisal, Noor Ul Saba Khattak, Maria Saeed, Fazl E Amin, Muhammad Waqar Ahmad Khan

Health Professions Education

Background:

Learning style is an approach students start to adopt to new information. It can be assessed by various models. Among them, the VARK (visual-V, aural-A, read/write-R, kinesthetic-K) model is more appropriate, concise, and reliable. Visual learners grasp information best through images and diagrams; auditory learners excel by listening to spoken content; reading/writing learners prefer writing and text-based materials; and kinesthetic learners understand concepts through hands-on activities. Understanding students’ preferences of learning styles grants higher academic efficiency and helps the faculty to use suitable teaching methods for enhancing the student’s grasping ability.

Objective:

To compare preferred learning styles by using …

Understanding The Impact Of Admissions Variables On Admissions Diversity: A Single Doctor Of Physical Therapy Program Review, Michael Bourassa, Allison Bourassa, Saurabh Mehta

Health Professions Education

Purpose: The U.S. physical therapy workforce lacks diversity, largely influenced by healthcare program admission procedures that affect student diversity and, in turn, the profession itself. This study aimed to characterize applicants' demographic and educational profiles applying to a single accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy program and examine factors associated with admission outcomes when considering race.

Methods: This retrospective descriptive study analyzed data from 1,409 applicants to the U.S. Doctor of Physical Therapy program from 2017 to 2022. Data from pre-admission applications encompassed demographic details, overall grade point average (GPA), prerequisite GPA, graduate record examination (GRE) scores, average professional reference scores, …

Comparison Of Nursing Students' Self-Directed Learning Readiness In Offline And Online Classes, Nguyen Thi Thu Thao, Duong Thi Huyen, Tran Thi Hong Hanh, Le Thi Thu Hien, Ho Thi Thuy Trang, Nguyen Thi Anh Phuong, Ton Nu Minh Duc

Health Professions Education

Purpose: (1) To compare nursing students' self-directed learning readiness (SDLR) scores between online and offline classes and (2) to identify factors associated with SDLR in online and offline classes among nursing students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 220 3^rd- and 4^th-year full-time nursing students at a University in central of Vietnam, with 2 rounds of data collection: December 2021 in online class by Google form with a response rate of 62.3%; and February 2022 in offline class on the 1^st time responding students. The instrument included General characteristics and the SDLR scale in Nursing …

Designing A Logbook To Enhance Pedagogical Effectiveness In Public Health Internships In Morocco, Fadila Bousgheiri, Zaynab Mahdi, Faïza Charif, Karima Sammoud, Hicham El Bouri, Adil Najdi

Health Professions Education

Objective: This study aims to identify and delineate the essential components to be included in the public health internship logbook for medical students during their internships at health center facilities. Key elements to be defined include educational objectives, as well as specific skills and tasks that students are expected to acquire throughout their internship experience.

Materials and methods: A comprehensive methodology was developed, structured into three distinct phases. The first phase utilized the Delphi technique to establish pedagogical objectives for public health internships. The second phase involved analyzing feedback from public health professionals who supervise students at health centers. The …

Knowledge, Ethics, And Use Of Large Language Models And Artificial Intelligence Among Applied Medical Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.", Glenn Ford D. Valdez, Fahad Alhowaymel, Abdulaziz F. Abaoud, Ramon Perley M. Pandaan, Abdalrahman Abdallatif Mohammed Saeed

Health Professions Education

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, ethical concerns, and utilization of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools among students studying applied medical sciences in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It also explored the potential of AI technologies to enhance education and healthcare. Methods: This investigation adopted a cross-sectional approach, employing a reliable and validated structured tool: the Large Language Model and Artificial Intelligence Enabling and Self-Regulation 32 Questionnaire (LLMAI-ESR 32). The sample comprised 375 undergraduate students in applied medical sciences, from levels 3 to 8, undertaking applied medical sciences education. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version …

Perceptions Of Dental Students On Denture Teeth Arrangement And Digital Support: An Exploratory Study, Bora Lee, Juyeon Hwang, Soo-Yoon Kim, Jong-Eun Kim, Eunbae B. Yang

Health Professions Education

Purpose: This study explored dental students’ perceptions of arranging denture teeth in complete denture cases, the impact of digital support on learning strategies, and differences in their experiences based on whether they had access to digital support.

Methods: In this qualitative case study, a total of 14 students were randomly assigned to either the digital or non-digital support group. The digital group performed digital teeth arrangements, followed by manual tooth arrangements, with access to a 3D viewer, 3D-printed model, and instructor feedback. The non-digital group received only instructor feedback. While the sample size was limited, it is consistent with the …

Quasi-Experimental Study Examining Student Attitudes Toward Interprofessional Healthcare Teams And Experiences With Social Determinants Of Health Through A Virtual Poverty Simulation, Suzanne Greenwalt, Renee Brown, Lindsay Hahn, Missy Bryan, Tamara Lemmonds, David Phillippi

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Highly functioning interprofessional teams are essential for optimal patient care. Interprofessional teams consist of healthcare workers from various disciplines working together to meet the unique needs of each patient, family, and caregiver with the highest level of care possible. Healthcare programs must train students to work and communicate effectively within such teams. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of an interprofessional virtual poverty simulation on students’ attitudes toward interprofessional healthcare teams and experiences with social determinants of health.

Methods: Students from seven health professions participated in a virtual case event. Students worked in interprofessional teams …

Lifestyle Predictors Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Risk Among Medical Students In Urban Tamil Nadu: A Cross-Sectional Study, Dharani Bhaskaran, Suba Angappan, Chitra Mourali

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a prevalent but underdiagnosed sleep disorder especially among undergraduate medical students. This study aimed to assess the lifestyle habits among undergraduate medical students and their association with risk of OSA in urban part of Tamil Nadu.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 315 undergraduate medical students aged 18-25 years. Data collection was done by using STOP-BANG Questionnaire for OSA risk assessment and a google form-based proforma to evaluate lifestyle habits. Statistical analysis, including the Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square test, were used to evaluate associations between lifestyle factors and OSA risk.

Results:

The …

Uncovering The Perceptions Of Grades In Dentistry Students: How Are Grades Impacting Learning & Clinical Development?, Jenna J. Yuen, Andrew Horne, Tyler S. Beveridge, Sarah Mclean

Health Professions Education

Purpose. Educators have noted that grades may have negative impacts on students’ clinical performance; however, dental students’ perceptions of grading practices remains unknown. This study aims to: (i) identify the most prevalent grade perceptions and the underlying driving factors, and (ii) explore how students perceive the impact of grades on their learning and clinical development.

Methods. To address our aims, we used a mixed-methods research approach with a population of dentistry students at our institution. We distributed online surveys (Winter 2021; n=68), and conducted virtual semi-structured interviews (Fall 2021; n=6) and a focus group (Fall …

Effect Of Problematic Smartphone Usage On Reaction Time And Critical Flicker Fusion Frequency Among Medical Undergraduate Students In Chennai, South India - A Cross-Sectional Study, Saisubramanian Abeetha, Angappan Suba, Mourali Chitra, Chirag D Jain, Saisubramanian Sadhana

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Smartphones are vital for communication and learning, especially among medical students, but excessive use can cause physical, psychological, and cognitive issues. Problematic Smartphone Usage (PSU), marked by compulsive use, is linked to attention deficits and reduced cognitive function. Reaction Time (RT) reflects sensory-motor speed, while Critical Flicker Fusion Frequency (CFFF) indicates sensory processing and neural fatigue. Prolonged smartphone use may impair these parameters. Despite growing concern, data on PSU’s impact on RT and CFFF in medical students is limited. This study explores their association among undergraduates in Chennai.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 402 medical undergraduate students …

Professional Skills For Behavior Analysts: A Survey On The Proficiency And Importance Of Hard And Soft Skills, Landon S. Cowan, Tiffany Kodak

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Individuals seeking certification as board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) require training in both hard and professional (soft) skills. Trainees seeking certification complete coursework, supervised fieldwork experience, and a BCBA exam that assesses mastery of hard skills. However, training and mastery of soft skills is not as defined. BCBAs are also expected to maintain these skills throughout their career. Previous research has shown that soft skills are viewed as important by clients and their caregivers but are not consistently demonstrated from those providing services. Research also suggests that BCBA trainees may not consistently receive training on soft skills. The current study …

Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2024-2025, Tennessee. Department Of Safety And Homeland Security

Annual Reports

This document is the annual report for the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security during the fiscal year.

Microwave Photonics-Assisted Interrogation Of Fiber-Optic Interferometric Sensors With Joint Frequency-Time Domain Analysis, Ruimin Jie, Jie Huang, Chen Zhu

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fiber-optic interferometers are widely used in localized sensing applications due to their compact size, high sensitivity, and immunity to electromagnetic interference. In this paper, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel interrogation scheme for fiber-optic interferometric sensors, utilizing microwave photonics (MWP) and joint frequency-time domain analysis. As a proof of concept, a miniature fiber in-line Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) is integrated with a microwave photonic single-passband filter, enhanced by a dispersion compensation module to improve sensing performance. By applying an inverse Fourier transform to the system's complex frequency response, the time-domain representation of the signal is obtained, translating spectral shifts of …

Icu-Length Of Stay Prediction On Electronic Health Records Using Graph Neural Networks And Homogeneous Similarity Graphs, Ahmad F. Al Musawi, Pratip Rana, Sibtanu Raha, Joshua Braunstein, William C. Sleeman Iv, Rishabh Kapoor, Preetam Ghosh

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Predicting the length of stay (LoS) is important for hospital administration, as it helps allocate proper resources, such as bed management and hospital staffing. Patients' Electronic Health Records (EHRs) contain highly relevant data for LoS prediction; however, their integration and effective use in predictive modeling for accurately estimating LoS remain challenging. To address this, we propose a homogeneous Graph Neural Network (GNN)-based framework for predicting LoS. This method employs a comprehensive data fusion strategy based on the hospital Visit-based Similarity Graph (VSG), which integrates diverse multi-modal clinical features into a coherent, homogeneous graph representation. Next, this VSG is fed into …