Digital Commons Network^™

Prioritizing Penal Reforms For Adolescents In Ecuador: Using Neutrosophic Topsis And Hausdorff Distance, Mesías Elías Machado Maliza, Oscar Gonzalo Jácome Merino, Luis Ramiro Ayala Ayala, José Milton Jiménez Montenegro, Otto F. Von Feigenblatt

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This question builds upon the issue of Ecuador's minors not being liable as growing juvenile delinquents and those between 16-18 not receiving punishment for their actions will only foster more juvenile delinquents and complicate public safety and socio-protective efforts. This question is increasingly urgent given the recent upsurge in juvenile delinquency—grave crimes—and the vulnerable balance that exists between juvenile rights and social equity. While the literature is rich regarding the phenomenon of juvenile crime and delinquency, very few offer a truly feasible methodology that integrates equity, punishment, and social responsibility given the assessed social reality. Therefore, the neutrosophic TOPSIS method …

Technarrative Model (Ntm) For The Symbolic-Emotional Evaluation Of Architectural Space: A Neutrosophic Multiperspectivism Approach, Jesús Rafael Hechavarría-Hernández, Ana María Padrón-Medina, Erika Ascencio Jordán

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This research answers the need to evaluate an architectural space from a non-technical standpoint relative to its symbolism/emotion charge that is not taken into account by the design/planning of such public spaces. This research problem is sociologically relevant as today; architecture does not only dictate the layout of the physical world but also the group existence, sensitivity to experiences and modes of social appropriation. Yet the state-of- the-art literature provides purely professional and empirical avenues of investigation driven by economic/aesthetic value with no pathway for understanding appreciation of ambiguity and the multiple perspectives at play. Thus, a Neutrosophic Technarrative Model …

Modeling Numerical Thinking In Second-Year Students Using Neutrosophic Cognitive Maps In Game-Based Learning, Nayade Caridad Reyes Palau, Amable Nelly Hodelín, Elizabeth Esther Vergel De Salazar, Lidia Carmita Pucha Medina, Mariela Alexandra Flores García

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This problem is a development of numerical thinking of second course Basic General Education students where insufficient understanding of digits and little enthusiasm obstructs proper learning. The topicality of the problem is relevant since understanding numbers since early age allows for proper academic growth and task oriented problem-solving success in the everyday life—it is needed in a quite strict setting that allows for great logical-mathematical skills. The previous solutions did not meet the requirements of recent studies conducted in the field of games learning, as they did not integrate the uncertainly that reflected the cognitive developments of children, nor did …

Neutrosophic Psychology In Playful Spelling Learning: Understanding Cognitive And Emotional Dynamics In Spelling Competence, Giselle Rodríguez Caballero, Martha Silvia Mancebo Calzado, Elsy Rodríguez Revelo, Lissett Aide Perea Tenorio, Cecilia Denisse Anangonó Corozo

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

The problem explored in this article is spelling ability of 3rd year students of Basic General Education and how neutrosophic psychology can enhance spelling rules through playful teaching. Spelling is an essential component of presenting one's thoughts formally and non-verbally; unfortunately, without motivation and without dynamic approaches, spelling becomes complicated. The problem is observed in problems of the contemporary educated world as (positional) writing is formalized, and the requirements of language standards always should be met, which means logic and causation should be added for future endeavors of logical thinking and orientations by the public. Thus, similar research exists regarding …

Neutrosophic Sets And Systems, Vol. 92, 2025, Florentin Smarandache, Maikel Yelandi Leyva, Mohamed Abdel‑Basset

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Impact Of System, Information, And Service Quality On User Outcomes In Malaysian Public Hospitals: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach, Muhd Siv Azhar Merican Abdullah, Azimatun Noor Aizuddin, Mohd Rizal Abdul Manaf

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Increasing use of hospital information systems (HIS) underscores the need to evaluate their impact on User Satisfaction and Perceived Net Benefits. This study investigated the connections among outsourced System Quality, Information Quality, Service Quality, Perceived Usefulness, User Satisfaction, and Perceived Net Benefits in the context of Malaysian public hospitals.

Methods: Data were collected from 1,376 healthcare personnel across six public hospitals and analyzed using structural equation modeling through analysis of moment structures grounded in the DeLone and McLean Information Systems Success Model.

Results: System and Service Qualities significantly influenced User Satisfaction and Perceived Usefulness, while Information Quality impacted …

A Cross-Sectional Study On Patient Safety Attitudes And Their Determinants Among Medical Staff In Malaysian Public Specialist Hospitals, Sharifah Balqis Sayed Abdul Hamid, Aniza Ismail, Saperi Sulong

Makara Journal of Health Research

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the baseline level and mean scores of patient safety attitude domains among doctors and nurses in Malaysian public hospitals and to identify determinants associated with these attitudes across six domains: teamwork, safety climate, working conditions, job satisfaction, stress recognition, and perception of management.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) among 142 doctors and 231 nurses from three public tertiary hospitals. Participants were selected through proportionate stratified random sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate methods.

Results: The study achieved an 81% response rate. …

The Relationship Between Religious Attitude And Breastfeeding Attitude: A Cross-Sectional Study From Türkiye, Melike Yavaş Çelik, Cuma Tunçkaşık

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between religious attitudes and breastfeeding attitudes and the effect of this relationship on breastfeeding practices.

Methods: This study was conducted with 203 mothers with babies aged 0–24 months. Simple random sampling was used in sample selection. The Religious Attitude Scale and Breastfeeding Attitudes of the Evaluation Scale were used in data collection.

Results: A significant relationship was found between religious attitudes and breastfeeding attitudes. Additionally, mothers' negative breastfeeding attitudes and positive breastfeeding attitudes were found to be close to each other. The time it took for mothers to start breastfeeding their …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Concerning Water, Sanitation, And Hygiene And Related Diseases Among University Students In Malaysia, Renee Ng Jeffrey, Aida Soraya Shamsuddin, Farah Diyana Ariffin, Aziemah Zulkifli

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices are fundamental components of public health, being crucial in preventing disease transmission and promoting healthy living environments. In this context, university students play an essential role as future professionals and community advocates in fostering proper hygiene behaviors and preventing disease outbreaks. Understanding knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) in regard to WASH among individuals, particularly university students, is crucial for promoting proper hygiene behaviors. This study aimed to assess the KAP in regard to WASH and related diseases among undergraduate students from the Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

Methods: …

Climate Change Anxiety Related To Women’S Health Among Health Sciences Students, Derya Kaya Şenol, Semiha Aydın Özkan, Durdu Cennet Omuş

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Climate change impacts are unequally distributed globally, with children, women, pregnant women, the elderly, marginalized populations, and refugees bearing a disproportionate burden. This study aims to determine the levels of related anxiety among female students and to examine the relationship between the anxiety and their perceptions, knowledge levels, and health behaviors related to women’s health.

Methods: The study has a descriptive cross-sectional design. The study population included women students enrolled in the fall semester of the 2023–2024 academic year at the Faculty of Health Sciences of a university between October and December 2023. Personal Information Form and …

Moving Toward Healthy Ageing: The Role Of Physical Activity In Cognitive Function And Self-Esteem Among Older Adults In Türkiye, Canan Birimoglu Okuyan, Müjde Kerkez

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between religious attitudes and breastfeeding attitudes and the effect of this relationship on breastfeeding practices.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 251 older adults. Data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Spearman’s correlation and chi-square tests were employed for statistical analysis.

Results: Physical activity levels were positively correlated with both cognitive function (r = 0.546, p < 0.001) and self-esteem (r = 0.168, p < 0.05). No significant association was observed between cognitive function and self-esteem. Physical inactivity, cognitive decline, and low self-esteem were more prevalent among women, participants with lower educational attainment, those with chronic diseases, and individuals engaged in polypharmacy.

Conclusions: The findings emphasize the importance of integrating physical activity promotion into national healthy ageing policies, particularly in Mediterranean contexts such …

Effects Of Proactive Interference On Adults With Adhd: A Sex-Based Study, Julia Switzer

Honors Theses

ADHD is a widespread phenomenon that affects individuals in a variety of ways. Many individuals exhibit strong proactive interference, in which past memories interfere with the memorization and recall of new information. One of the ways symptoms differ is through the biological sex of individuals, although differences in proactive interference have not been studied in relation to sex. This study hypothesized that women with ADHD are better at resisting proactive interference than males with ADHD. The study involved a digital activity in which a series of colored shapes was shown to participants, who identified whether the previously displayed shapes or …

Studying Causal Inferences For Student Success In Higher Education, Prabesh Shrestha

Theses and Dissertations

Higher education institutions strive to support students in achieving their academic goals through targeted interventions and data-driven strategies. This study analyzed 19 variables, spanning student demographics, enrollment patterns, and institutional interventions, to identify predictors of students completing all enrolled courses in a semester. Using random forest, logistic regression, and bootstrap forest models, we assessed variable importance and derived causal estimates to determine their impact. Results from causal analysis indicate positive effects from session type, term load, referrals, kudos, flags, and scholarships, while negative impacts were associated with location, course delivery method, enrollment status, advisor contact, and registration interval. These findings …

Cv: Deborah Augsburger (Literacy), Deborah Augsburger

Education Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

A Shareholder Primacy Mindset In The Benefit Corporation’S Top Management Team And Greenwashing Actions, Jonathan Wimberly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Benefit corporations exist to benefit society and generate profit for shareholders and stakeholders, but there is evidence that greenwashing is prevalent among these entities. Business leaders need to understand the extent to which a shareholder primacy mindset influences the collective top management team and drives greenwashing in benefit corporations. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine the relationship between the collective demographic characteristics of top management teams and a shareholder primacy mindset, and to assess the relationship between a shareholder primacy mindset in the top management team of a benefit corporation and greenwashing behavior. Upper echelons theory …

Teachers’ Emotional Appraisals And The Reframing Of Student Change In Post-Pandemic Schools, Rachel Gaines, Mei-Lin Chang, Kristen Mosley

Faculty Articles

Introduction:

The return to “normal” schooling after the COVID-19 pandemic reactivated many of the emotional, instructional, and moral tensions teachers experienced during emergency remote teaching. Yet, little is known about how teachers’ emotional appraisals of post-pandemic classrooms intersect with deficit-oriented “learning loss” discourses. Guided by appraisal theory and Frenzel’s reciprocal model of teacher emotions, this qualitative study examined how mid- and late-career teachers interpreted perceived changes in students and how these appraisals shaped their emotions, emotion regulation, and adoption of or resistance to deficit framings.

Methods:

Ten K–12 teachers from the southeastern United States participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were …

Examining Religiosity, Suicidality, And Internalized Homonegativity Among Ethnoracially Diverse Sexual Minority Students, Danica Christy

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Sexual minority (SM) individuals are at an elevated risk for suicidality, particularly those who hold multiple marginalized identities, including religious and racial minority statuses. While religiosity is generally protective against psychological distress and suicide for heterosexual individuals, its impact on SM individuals is more complex. It may function as both a risk and a protective factor. The current mixed methods study explored the relationships between religiosity, internalized homonegativity (IH), and suicidality among an ethno-racially diverse sample of college students (n = 246). Quantitative analyses revealed that SM participants (n = 123) reported significantly higher rates of suicidality than their heterosexual …

Holistic Support And Development: Collaboration Between Residence Life And Faculty On Short-Term Education Abroad Programs, Kendra Sherman

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Short-term education abroad programs are designed to increase students’ intercultural competencies, expose them to new cultures and languages, prepare them for future employability, and further their academic development (Castiello-Gutiérrez & Gozik, 2022; Yao, 2021). While education abroad programs may result in strong benefits for students, they are not without their challenges when it comes to facilitating and managing them. Both the faculty who lead these programs and the students who participate in them face challenges respective to their experiences abroad. Many researchers emphasize collaboration between student affairs and academic affairs to alleviate these challenges, but no one office is identified …

Examining Aba Classroom Paraprofessional Training Methods In New Jersey, Melina Campos

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

In recent years, paraprofessionals have become an integral part of educational teams, particularly in classrooms supporting students with disabilities (Giangreco et al., 2010). Their role has been crucial in ensuring that students received necessary academic and social support. This study evaluated the training provided to paraprofessionals in New Jersey, specifically those working in applied behavior analysis (ABA) classrooms. By surveying paraprofessionals on training that they receive and assessing how training influenced their self-perceived knowledge and skills, the study offered insight into how well-prepared these educators felt to support students with disabilities. A total of 57 participants completed the survey. When …

The Implementation Of Tact And Bidirectional Intraverbal Training In Teaching A Foreign Language: A Systematic Replication, Karen Parra Caballero

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The current study replicates and extends Yamaguchi and Matsuda (2024) to evaluate the effects of foreign tact and bidirectional intraverbal training on teaching foreign-language vocabulary to adults. An adapted alternating-treatments design was used to evaluate the effects of learning vocabulary of a foreign language through tact teaching (tacting a picture in French), foreign-native intraverbal teaching (vocalizing a French word in the presence of the Spanish word), and native-foreign intraverbal teaching (vocalizing a French word in the presence of the Spanish word). Each teaching condition had an assigned stimulus set for teaching, and an additional stimulus set was included as a …

The Impact Of Youth Sports Participation On Academic Performance And Sense Of Belongingness In Middle School Students, Kevin Stahl

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This quantitative study explored the relationship between youth sports participation, academic achievement, and sense of belonging among middle school students. Using data from the Middle Grades Longitudinal Study of 2017–2018 (MGLS; National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2018), the research examined whether involvement in youth sports predicts outcomes in mathematics, reading, and students’ perceived connection to their school environment.

The findings challenged the extent to which Astin’s (1984) theory of student involvement generalizes to early adolescent populations. Although the theory proposes participation in structured activities supports both academic and social outcomes, results indicated stronger and more consistent associations between sports …

Integrating The Five As Framework To Enhance Person-Centered Care For Adults Living With Obesity, Alexandra Charles

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Obesity has adverse effects on physical health, emotional well-being, and mental functioning. To effectively address this highly prevalent and multifaceted condition, the use of a structured, evidence-informed framework is essential to support providers in delivering consistent, person-centered care for individuals living with obesity. The Five As is a powerful yet not commonly implemented framework in many primary care practices. The Five As framework (Ask, Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist) offers a structured model to guide clinicians in delivering consistent, supportive, and transformative care for individuals with obesity.

The goal of the project was to implement a timely and cost-effective protocol/tool that …

Gender Equality Discourse: A Japanese Context, Gabriel Eweje, Hitomi Toyosaki, Kazunori Kobayashi, Sitong Michelle Chen, Masahiro Hosoda

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose – This review paper aims to critically examine the discourse on gender equality in Japan, focusing on its socio-cultural, economic and political dimensions. By synthesising existing literature, it provides a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and barriers that influence the gender equality debate in Japan, while identifying gaps and opportunities for future research and specifying where practice can be recoupled to policy. Design/methodology/approach – An integrative literature review was conducted across four key institutional domains – markets, government/public sector, families and education – analysed at the macro, meso and micro levels. The synthesis is integrative rather than exhaustive, prioritising …

Assessing The Relationship Between Treatment Quality, Matching And Dosage And Juvenile Justice Outcomes Among Youth With Co-Occurring Substance Abuse And Mental Health Disorders, Kevin T. Wolff, Michael T. Baglivio, Joshua A. Lang

Publications and Research

This study examined differences among youth in deep-end juvenile justice residential placement who did, and did not, present with co-occurring disorders. The prevalence of cooccurring mental health and substance use/abuse issues was found to be 19%, far lower than that of prior work. Researchers demonstrated more similarities than differences between youth with and without co-occurring disorders, both in terms of their criminal histories and the prevalence of their criminogenic needs. Additionally, the residential programs across Florida appear to provide treatment at similarly high levels of integrity, as measured by 1) matching treatment services to the highest three dynamic risk assessed …

The Cost Of Care: Medical Bills, Mental Health, And The Protective Role Of Insurance Coverage Among U.S. Adults, Fahima Sultana

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This paper focuses on how medical bills and financial hardship are related to healthcare access in adults in the United States, based on the results of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). In particular, it examines the hypothesis that those with problems paying medical bills have a higher tendency to delay or ration medical care or health insurance cover offsets this effect. Logistic regression models were used to determine the relationship between financial hardship, delayed care, and psychological distress and demographic and socioeconomic variables including age, education, race, and poverty status. According to the results, it can be seen that …

Breaking Barriers: Understanding Factors Constraining Women’S Career Choices And Progression In The South African Construction Industry, Abimbola Olukemi Windapo, Olugbenga Timo Oladinrin, João Alencastro, Dineo Mbekwa, Christiana Ekpo, Muhammad Qasim Rana, Amanda Filtane

School of Art, Design and Architecture

Purpose – This paper examines the barriers constraining women's career choices and progression within the South African construction industry. Design/methodology/approach – The study employed a mixed-methods research approach, utilizing a questionnaire survey of construction industry workers listed in the Construction Professions Register, the Builders Collective and the Housing Assembly Organization. It also used interviews to validate the quantitative data. The data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including factor analysis. Findings – The study found that 39 of the 46 barriers identified have normalized values greater than 0.5 and, therefore, are classified as critical. From a ranking perspective, …

How Climate For Green Initiatives Drives Eco-Innovative And Citizenship Behaviours: The Role Of Green Engagement And Green Values, Aaron Makafui Ametorwo, Michael Kyei-Frimpong, Abdul Razak Suleman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose This study proposes and tests the nexus between climate for green initiatives, green innovative behaviour, organisational citizenship behaviour for the environment, green work engagement, and individual green values. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted the explanatory research design, where data were gathered from 374 star-rated frontline employees at two different waves within a one-month interval. The data retrieved from the respondents were analysed using descriptive and inferential (partial least squares structural equation modelling) statistics. Findings The study revealed that a climate for green initiatives positively and significantly relates to green innovative behaviour and organisational citizenship behaviour for the environment. Also, the …

The Development Of Children's Understanding Of Merit In The Fair Allocation Of Resources, Zahraa Sami Abboud, Ghada Ali Hadi

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

The current research aims to identify: 1- Children’s understanding of merit in the fair allocation of resources according to the variables: A- Age (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) years. B - Gender (males - females). 2- There are statistically significant differences in children’s understanding of merit in the fair allocation of resources according to the two variables: A - Age (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) years. B - Gender (males - females). The current research sample includes (280) boys and girls of Baghdad Governorate- its two sides (Karkh and Rusafa), for ages (4, 5, 6, 7, …

Opening Brief For Plaintiff-Appellant Emery Barron, Steven Mitchell, Carolyn Sacco, Shaina Sikka, Madeline H. Meth

Faculty Scholarship

By the time Emery Barron sued Pennsylvania Department of Corrections officials in 2021, they had kept him caged for almost six years in solitary confinement without providing a pathway for him to reenter general population. Department of Correction policy calls for officials to review the ongoing need for solitary confinement after an initial ninety-day stint in disciplinary confinement. However, procedural carve outs allow officials to leave people like Barron in solitary indefinitely without an opportunity to be heard by a decisionmaker and without requiring officials to assert any legitimate penological interest behind the confinement.

Under this scheme, which violated both …

Understanding Crime Through Harm: A Multi-Stage Study Of Rochester, Ny, Hayder Alhafedhi

Theses

This capstone project develops, critiques, and applies a Crime Harm Index (CHI) for the City of Rochester, New York, as an alternative to traditional crime measures that rely solely on raw counts. Rather than treating all offenses as equal “one crime = one unit,” the project weights crimes by the severity of harm they cause, using New York State sentencing guidelines as the core metric. Across four working papers, the project moves from conceptual foundations and limitations of harm-based metrics, to the construction of a Rochester-specific Crime Harm Index, and finally to a set of spatial regression models that link …