Digital Commons Network^™

Core Outcome Set And Measures Of Chest Health In Children And Young People With Cerebral Palsy In The Community Setting: The Chesti Study Protocol, Chesti-Study Steering Group, Rachel Knight Lozano, Christopher Morris, Harriet Shannon, Kayleigh Bell, Hugh Malyon, Julia Melluish, Jos Latour, Morag Andrews, Sarah Crombie, Noula Gibson, Samantha Grace, Sian Goddard, Nicola Harman, Sarah Mc Goldrick Kolawole, Laura Lowndes, Paul Mcnamara, Madeline Pilbury, Rachel Rapson, Nicola Scivier, Diane Sellers, Caroline Weighton, Mark Williams, Luana Winston

School of Health Professions

Introduction Poor chest health is the leading cause of early mortality in children with cerebral palsy (CP). It is also the most common reason to seek healthcare, accruing significant costs and reducing quality-of-life for children and families. Clinical trials examining chest health interventions in CP are characterised by inconsistent outcome measures, limiting the capacity for evidence synthesis to inform clinical application. The study aims to develop a core outcome set (COS) and related measurement instruments to assess, monitor and evaluate chest health in children with CP, both in research and routine clinical practice. The COS will reflect the views of …

Coolness, Leisure, And Power : The Development Of Mokanshan Summer Resort In Modern China, 1890–1937, Xuyan Pan

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

The concept of "coolness" (清涼) embodied fundamentally different bodily and cultural experiences in Chinese and Western traditions. With the introduction of Western-style summer resorts by foreign missionaries in the 1890s, these divergent understandings converged and clashed in new spatial forms. This study examines Mokanshan (莫干山), located in Zhejiang province and recognized as one of the Republican era’s “Four Great Summer Retreats” (民國四大避暑地), as a paradigmatic case of transnational leisure. Initially developed by missionaries as a health-oriented retreat, a transnationally managed enclave, and a nostalgic “overseas home” for expatriates, Mokanshan reflected a hybrid model of modern leisure shaped by foreign institutions. …

Post-Pandemic Restaurant Patronage: The Importance Of Neuroticism In Shaping In Person Dining Intentions., Matthew Gorton, Min Yan, Honglyu Lin, Dora Gaćeša Brlić, John White, Ružica Brečić, Ana Tkalac Verčič

Plymouth Business School

Purpose Even after the lifting of all government restrictions, introduced to combat the spread of Covid-19, many consumers remain fearful of in-person dining. This paper seeks to understand this reticence, and explain post-pandemic restaurant dining intentions. Design/methodology/approach The paper introduces and tests a conceptual framework for understanding in-person dining intentions in the post-Covid-19 era, utilizing structural equation modelling. To empirically validate the model, survey data collection (n = 436) occurred in China after the government lifted its “Zero-Covid” policy. Findings Neuroticism, as a personality trait, negatively affects restaurant trust and increases fear of Covid-19 (threat appraisal), which in turn reduces …

Deriving Profiles Of Psychosocial Supports And Challenges, And Predicting Longitudinal Trajectories Of Hba1c To Promote Flourishing In Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes (T1d), Kishan Desai

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Managing type 1 diabetes (T1D) is emotionally demanding, especially for adolescents navigating intersecting developmental, biological, and psychosocial transitions. Routine psychosocial screening may help address youths’ needs. One hundred eighty adolescents with T1D ages 12-18 (M=14.71, SD=1.69 years) were recruited from a pediatric diabetes clinic. Confirmatory Factor Analyses confirmed a six-factor structure, and Latent Variable Mixture Modeling identified three profiles of psychosocial supports and challenges: (1) Average Supports, Low Challenges (n = 105, 58%), (2) Low Supports, High Challenges (n = 37, 20%), and (3) Average Supports, High Family Conflict (n = 38, 22%). Illness duration and race-income interactions predicted profile …

Statistical Literacy As Health Literacy: The Role Of Emotions In Health Decision-Making, Kendra Murphy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Lifestyle-related health problems remain a leading cause of chronic illness in the United States, creating a need for more effective communication of health information. However, the mechanisms that influence how individuals understand and use health information are not yet fully understood. This exploratory study investigates the intersections of statistical health literacy, emotions, and health decision-making from an interdisciplinary perspective. Guided by prior literature suggesting potential relationships among these factors, the study hypothesized that statistical literacy and emotional responses would modify responses to the form of health information presentation, affect the believability and motivational impact of the information, and influence health …

All In God's Plan?: Examining Positive And Negative Religious Coping As Moderators Of Posttraumatic Stress And Alcohol Use Following Intimate Partner Violence Exposure, Mya Elizabeth Bowen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is defined as physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, or psychological aggression by a current or former intimate partner or spouse (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Recognized as a pervasive public health concern, approximately 41% of women report experiences of sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking, and over 61 million women report experiencing psychological aggression, all at the hands of an intimate partner (Leemis et al., 2022). The pervasive nature of IPV is particularly concerning as experiences of violence can result in significant negative physical and psychological health concerns, including the development of PTSD …

The Effectiveness Of Translanguaging Pedagogy In Academic Writing Skills Among Kurdish Efl Learners, Nabaz Noori Kareem

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Recent research has highlighted the significant role of pedagogical translanguaging in language classrooms, particularly in enhancing L2 or TL writing development (García, 2014; García & Kano, 2014; Parmegiani, 2022; Turnbull, 2019; Zhang, 2019). This study investigates the impact of translanguaging pedagogy on the development of academic writing among Kurdish EFL learners in comparison to traditional monolingual instruction during a seven-week intensive English language summer course prior entering academic courses. The research involved 40 Kurdish EFL learners and enrolled in two intact classes at a private university in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Participants were divided into two groups: one was …

Optimising The Care Of The Trapped Patient Following A Motor Vehicle Collision: A Uk-Based Delphi Consensus Study, Tim Nutbeam, Rob Fenwick, Ian Marritt, Brian Lee, Luke Staveley-Wadham, Nigel Lang, Louise Johnson, Nicolas Mattock, Jane Ogilvie, Emily Foote, Francis Screech, Lara Lebeau-Humarau, Caroline Leech

Peninsula Medical School

Background Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are a leading cause of injury and death worldwide. Up to 40% ofcasualties may become trapped and entrapment is associated with delayed care and worse outcomes. There is littlenational or international consensus guiding the care of physically trapped patients who cannot self-extricate. Thisstudy aimed to develop multidisciplinary consensus-based principles to optimise clinical and operational care fortrapped patients following MVC.Methods A three-round Delphi study was conducted from January to March 2025, following the CREDES framework.A multi-professional steering group developed preliminary statements informed by literature review and expertconsultation. Subject matter experts (SMEs) with operational experience in extrication, …

International Collaboration To Explore Elements For An Effective Residential Childcare Workforce, Justyna Siemionow, Patrick M. Tyler, W. Alex Mason, Deogratias Musoke, Maia Ordonez, Jaime A. Gomez-Blaya, Joseph G. Grzywacz

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Residential childcare workers provide critical support to vulnerable children around the world. Building and maintaining a qualified residential childcare workforce is challenged by myriad forces, the foremost of which is recruiting and retaining staff for valuable work often misaligned with available compensation; making individual qualifications at hiring; ongoing training; supervision; and data support systems to monitor performance critical for quality care. This study explored the similarities and differences among these essential elements of staffing across distinct programs: Youth Education Centers (YEC) in Poland, CiudadEscuela Muchachos (CEMU) in Spain, and the Boys Town Family Home Program (BTFHP) in the United States. …

Cognitive Reserve In The Deaf/Hard Of Hearing Community: An Exploration Of Contributing Factors, Olivia B. Allaby

Theses

Cognitive reserve (CR) refers to the individual differences in how people execute tasks, allowing some to cope with cognitive challenges more effectively than others. Additionally, previous studies have established a link between age-related hearing loss and cognitive decline. However, CR and cognitive aging have not been explored extensively in those who might identify as Deaf/hard of hearing (HH). There are four features potentially unique to this community that could shape one’s CR: use of hearing technology (e.g., hearing aid), bimodal bilingualism, and social connectedness and social support. One hundred fifty-nine Deaf/hard of hearing participants completed an online survey study assessing …

Editorial: Health Misinformation: Examining Its Presence And Impact Across Communication Contexts, Christopher Mckinley

College of Communication and Media Scholarship and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Charting Suicide Risk In Latina Adolescents: A Qualitative System Dynamics Approach, Lauren E. Gulbas, Peter S. Hovmand, Esther J. Calzada, Carolina Hausmann-Stabile, Su Yeong Kim, Luis H. Zayas

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Objectives: Suicide risk among Latina adolescents is shaped by dynamic interactions among emotional, behavioral, and sociocultural factors. This study develops a causal feedback theory to illustrate how these factors reinforce or mitigate suicide risk over time.

Method: Using grounded theory analysis, we analyzed qualitative interviews with 60 Latina adolescents (ages 11-19) recruited from New York City: 30 with a history of suicide attempts and 30 with no reported history of suicidal behaviors. Participants varied by Hispanic cultural group, place of birth, and documentation status.

Results: Our feedback theory is organized around seven categories: cognitive vulnerabilities, avoidant coping, high-risk behaviors, family …

Factors Associated With The Use Of Combined Nutritional Complementary And Alternative Medicine Among Southern Us Older Adults: Results From The Study Of Aging Ii, Kristen Allen-Watts, Deanna Rumble, Taylor Taylor, Andrew Sims, Lisa H. Antoine, Georgiana Logan, Cynthia J. Brown, Thomas W. Buford, Burel R. Goodin, Andrea Cherrington, Richard Kennedy

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Older adults use nutritional complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to reduce the risk of (or treat) non-communicable conditions and diet deficiencies. While prior research has explored the individual use of dietary supplements, vitamins, and minerals among older adults, few studies have examined factors influencing the combined use of these modalities, especially among Southern, older adults in the United States. Methods: Data were extracted from 419 participants from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging II, a population-based longitudinal study of mobility among community-dwelling older adults. Self-reported data, including insurance and rural residence status, was collected. Comorbidity burden …

Varona, Federico, San Jose State University

Emeritus and Retired Faculty Biographies

USA:

University of Kansas, Major: Organizational Communication. Minor: Intercultural Communication, 1991 Ph.D.

University of Kansas, Major: Organizational Communication Minor: Intercultural Communication, 1988, M.A. [M.A. Thesis: A Comparative Study of Communication Satisfaction in Two Guatemalan Companies]

FRANCE:

Center AudioVisuel Recherche et Communication, Lyon, France, Audiovisual Communication.1977 Diplome

SPAIN:

Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, Spain, Major: Theology, 1976 Licenciado [Thesis: De Carl Rogers a la Pedagogía de la Fe]

Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, Spain. Major: Psychology. Minor: Clinical and Educational Psychology, 1976 Diplomado

GUATEMALA:

Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala, Psychology, 1972-1974

Universidad Francisco Marroquín, Guatemala, Theology, 1972-1974 …

Developing Resilience In First Year Collegiate Athletes: The Effectiveness Of A Resilience And Strengths Based Course, Dorian J. Hayden

Dissertations, 2020-current

Research shows that college students have increased levels of mental health difficulties with freshmen transitioning into college experiencing even more strain. What further contributes to these difficulties includes having experienced the COVID pandemic in high school, low socioeconomic status (SES), and racial minority status. Student-athletes, although known to have better mental health than non-student-athletes, still underutilize their abundance of resources. Generally, a skill that has been established as beneficial in managing the difficulties related to college is resilience, suggesting the implementation of a more accessible resource to support the mental health of student-athletes transitioning into college. One such resource is …

Enduring The Torturing Shears: Gardens And Novel Conventions In The Brontës' Novels, Grace Mattingly

Honors Theses

This thesis is a literary analysis of the use of gardens and garden imagery in Anne Brontë’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, and Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights to subvert Victorian novel conventions. This work is part of the larger conversation of how female authors in the literary canon express dissatisfaction with or resistance to Victorian social mores. This thesis is divided into three chapters, each focusing on one novel, and it primarily evaluates how gardens are employed by the Brontës to challenge plot and genre conventions. The work examines concerns surrounding the Victorian marriage institution, female …

Paradoxical Forms Of Scientific Heroism When Responsibly Conducting Research, Theresa A. Thorkildsen

Heroism Science

The Stanford Prison Experiment is widely known for offering insight into the responsible conduct of research as well as how prisoners and prison guards fall easily into potentially harmful roles. As the principal investigator of the study, Philip Zimbardo became a polarizing figure in the social sciences -- both celebrated as a pioneering hero and criticized for ethical shortcomings -- while consistently engaging with his critics throughout his career (Zimbardo, n.d.). Highlighting Zimbardo’s influence on the protection of human research participants, this article uses details from Zimbardo’s self-reflections and insights on the paradoxes of heroism to convey how research personalities …

Embedding Self-Determination In Transition Planning For Young Adults With Autism, Kade Lane

Graduate Teacher Education

Despite decades of legal mandates under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continue to face disproportionately poor postschool outcomes in employment, independent living, and higher education. Research consistently identifies self-determination as a critical predictor of positive adult outcomes, yet transition planning in many educational settings remains procedural, adult-driven, and disconnected from student agency. This capstone explores how self-determination can be meaningfully embedded into transition planning by synthesizing literature across legal foundations, structured interventions, culturally responsive practices, and implementation strategies. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, the literature review reveals that student-led IEPs, autonomy-supportive instruction, and …

Closing The Autism Employment Gap, Sarah Tate

Graduate Teacher Education

This literature review explored how educators can better support transition-aged autistic youth in preparing for, obtaining, and sustaining meaningful employment to improve adult life outcomes. The purpose of this review was to synthesize current research on evidence-based practices that address the persistent employment gap faced by individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A total of 21 peer-reviewed studies were analyzed, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research. These studies examined critical factors such as student motivation, transition planning, social communication, executive functioning, self-advocacy, and collaboration with families and community agencies. Common themes highlighted the importance of student-centered planning and the use …

Proceedings Of The 2025 Undergraduate Research Day, Rebecca Day Babcock Dr., Mohamed Zobaa

UTPB Student Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Primary Preventive Initiatives To Reduce Burnout And Compassion Fatigue In Emergency Department Nurses, Kelley Molandes

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Manuscripts

Background and significance: It is estimated that 20% of nurses leave the profession within the first year due to an onset of burnout (Henson, 2020). Prior to the pandemic of 2020, workforce projected models estimated large-scale shortages in full time employee (FTE) registered nurses as demand continued to outpace supply (Lauer, 2022). Researchers estimate projections from 2024 into the year 2032 are now skewed, as pandemic-related contributors and their effects on burnout in the nursing profession have not been thoroughly assessed (Saravanan et al., 2022). When considering the data, an underlying need for burnout prevention amongst nurse residents emerges. Interventions …

Learning Labs As A Professional Development Model To Strengthen Special Education Literacy Instruction, Claire Krajkowski

Masters Projects

Special education teachers face unique challenges in delivering effective literacy instruction to students with disabilities, yet traditional professional development often remains disconnected from the realities of special education classrooms. These conventional models frequently lack opportunities for sustained collaboration, reflective practice, and the application of evidence-based strategies tailored to diverse learner needs. This project presents a comprehensive plan for designing and facilitating Learning Labs, a form of embedded professional development grounded in constructivist and sociocultural theories. The Learning Lab model emphasizes collaborative inquiry, pedagogically productive talk, and the analysis of authentic instructional artifacts to deepen teachers’ understanding of effective literacy instruction. …

Environmental Citizenship And Behavioral Determinants Of Wind Farm Tourism: Evidence From Grass Skyline, Zhangjiakou, China, Danqing Liu, Leonardo Jackson, Randall S. Upchurch, Catherine Johnson

Plymouth Business School

This study examines the intersection of renewable energy and tourism by exploring why domestic tourists visit wind farm sites for recreation. Traditionally seen as industrial facilities, wind farms are now recognized as dual-purpose attractions that promote environmental awareness and local economic growth. Using the Value–Belief–Norm (VBN) theory, Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), and New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) as theoretical lenses, we investigate the psychological, social, and cultural factors influencing wind farm tourism. The key determinants of tourist behavior include attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, personal norms, and environmental beliefs. Structural equation modeling (SEM) indicates that personal norms have the …

Watching The Clock: Time-Tracking And The Erosion Of Privacy And Dignity At Work, Tammy Katsabian

Comparative Labor Law & Policy Journal

This article examines the rise of time-tracking technologies as a dominant form of digital workplace surveillance and their implications for workers’ privacy and dignity. Often framed as neutral tools for enhancing productivity, these systems embed continuous algorithmic oversight into daily work routines, intensifying managerial control and reshaping the employment relationship. Drawing on legal, philosophical, and socio-technical scholarship, the article argues that privacy and dignity are mutually reinforcing values, both of which are undermined by pervasive surveillance practices. Privacy is not treated here as a waivable entitlement grounded in individual consent, but rather as a structural safeguard that protects autonomy and …

Ai-Driven Biomedical Perspectives On Mental Fatigue In The Post-Covid-19 Era: Trends, Research Gaps, And Future Directions, Saba Parveen, Md Belal Bin Heyat, Umair Tariq, Faijan Akhtar, Hafiz Muhammad Zeeshan, Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah, Shang-Ming Zhou, Huang Lei

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Mental fatigue is a complex condition arising from various neurological processes and influenced by external factors such as stress and cognitive demands. This comprehensive review elucidates the primary neurological mechanisms underlying mental fatigue, particularly emphasizing how it was elevated or otherwise affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. We explore the intricate relationship between prolonged cognitive tasks, chronic stress, and the development of mental fatigue, emphasizing the impacts that mental fatigue has on mental health across diverse populations. Utilizing advanced artificial intelligence techniques, including machine learning and deep learning, this study identifies and quantifies the patterns of mental fatigue. The innovative approach …

The Problem Of Selective Miracles, Andrew Hronich

Liberty Theological Review

The problem of evil designates an umbrella of similarly related arguments linked together by family characteristics. Within this larger genus, the problem of selective miracles stands apart as a particularly underdeveloped species of argument that analytical and philosophical theologians have failed to adequately reckon with. By contextualizing this peculiar argument within an adequate metaethical framework, this article synthesizes a deontological framework with the elucidating work of John Peckham and his cosmic warfare theodicy. It further repudiates alternative approaches to the problem of selective miracles proffered by consequentialists and process theologians. In sum, the article contends that Peckham's cosmic warfare theodicy …

Washington Report: Single Level Of Appeals Gains Favor Within Irs; Aicpa To Survey Cpa Practitioners, Thomas R. Hanley, William R. Stromsem

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.

Helping Bipoc, Women, And First-Generation Students Maximize The Value Of Unpaid Internships, Ted Thornhill, Nicole Torres, Christina Van Wingerden

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Internships and practicums are a required component of nearly all degree programs in human services and its subfields—and most are unpaid. These unpaid positions often have a disproportionate impact for BIPOC and first-generation students, especially women—many of whom are economically disadvantaged and must work to support themselves and sometimes their families. Increased student activism, non-profit campaigns, and journalistic accounts show student frustration over their unpaid labor. Despite the righteousness of these students’ cause, the reality is that the implementation of an equitable, robust, and sustainable nationwide system of paid internships, in the near-term, is politically impracticable. Given that most human …

Building Climate Resilience: Community Gardens And Environmental Education In Christchurch, New Zealand, Caleb T. Mccauley

Capstone Collection

The socio-political movements in post-earthquake Christchurch are studied to better understand the interplay of community gardens, climate, environmental, and land-based education, and to analyze their relevance to entrenching climate resilience in the region. Social networks and community responses to natural disasters like an earthquake are leveraged to understand their ability to influence the pillars of climate resilience, those being community, economic, and ecological resilience, respectively. The central hypothesis and research question of this paper will seek to answer: Can social cooperation in the wake of a natural disaster influence the ability of a community to respond to similar disruptions caused …

Navigating Early Intervention: The Experiences And Impact Of A Parent Coaching Model On Immigrant And Refugee Families In Rural Massachusetts, Emily Pleasant

Capstone Collection

Early Intervention (EI) programs play a critical role in supporting the developmental needs of children from birth to age three. This study explores the experiences of immigrant and refugee families engaging with EI services in rural Massachusetts, focusing particularly on the implementation and effectiveness of parent coaching models. Utilizing a mixed methods design that incorporates both narrative and phenomenological approaches, the research examines how families from culturally diverse backgrounds perceive and engage with EI services. This study discusses what barriers or facilitators they encounter throughout their journeys with Early Intervention. Preliminary findings suggest challenges related to language, cultural differences in …