Digital Commons Network^™

Influence Of Institutional Support And Organisational Culture On Hiv And Ncd Integration, David Njuguna, Caroline Kyalo, Eunice Muthoni, Daniel Mwai, Elvis Kirui, Wesley Rotich, Joy Mugambi, James Waweru, Nelson Muriu, Easter Olwanda

Population Health, East Africa

Background: The integration of services for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) has gained increasing attention in recent years because of the overlapping prevalence and shared risk factors between these health conditions. However, successful integration requires more than just the alignment of clinical practices. The role of institutional support and organisational culture in promoting effective integration remains an underexplored area.

Aim: This study aims to fill this gap by examining how institutional structures and organisational values influence the integration of HIV and NCD care.

Setting: The study setting was Nakuru County in Kenya.

Methods: …

Toward A Nuanced Understanding Of Health And Human Services Students' Perceptions Of Autism, Leslie A. Meskin, Annemarie Connor, Sarah Fabrizi, Ann Tilman, Joanna Salapska-Gelleri, Noelle Balsamo

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

Continually increasing rates of autism necessitate research-informed preparation of pre-service professionals who will work with this population. This mixed-method study examined health and human services students’ autism knowledge, bias, and interaction to inform training and education needs. Results extend the extant literature suggesting autism knowledge and interaction are necessary but insufficient in mitigating bias. Specifically, the nature of prior interaction, positive or negative, shapes both bias and proclivity for additional interaction. Lastly, self-reflection was identified as a latent and potentially impactful factor in shaping a more nuanced and less biased understanding of autism. Recommendations for education and research are discussed.

Digital Learning And Healing: Impacts Of Ai In Art Therapy, Cassandra E. Buffington-Bates

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

Art therapy, a creative approach to mental and emotional healing, is evolving with digital technologies to improve accessibility and care. This paper explores how artificial intelligence (AI) enhances art therapy by fostering emotional intelligence, collaboration, and personalized interventions. It highlights AI’s potential to support therapy while addressing challenges like empathy, data privacy, and training gaps. Through a literature review, the study offers insights into integrating AI with human-centered practices, providing innovative solutions for emotional and cognitive well-being.

English-Spanish Bilingual Speech Language Pathologists’ Experiences Evaluating English Language Learner Students: Incorporating Conceptual Scoring, Barbara De Jesus Rivera, Raul Prezas

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

The number of multilingual/bilingual students has increased across schools in the United States. Assessment in both the native language and English is considered the standard for evaluating bilingual children referred for language testing. Conceptual Scoring is an evaluation approach for bilingual students that considers the students’ responses in both languages to obtain an overall language score; however, there is variability among practitioners on best practices for multilingual assessment.

Purpose: The current study (a) sought to explore the decision-making process of bilingual SLPs when evaluating bilingual students, (b) to gain a deeper understanding of how bilingual SLPs incorporate conceptual scoring in …

The Construction Of Mathematical Reasoning As A Pedagogical Object, Nick Pratt, Julie Alderton

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This paper explores how policy aims in mathematics curricula appear in classrooms and, crucially, how the resulting pedagogical practice affects the nature of mathematics itself. Whereas there have been many studies of policy and its relationship with teachers’ practices, few have examined epistemological effects; what mathematics becomes as it is translated from an educational, and political, intention into classroom activity. To focus the study, we examine reasoning as a central idea in mathematics, in the English primary (5-11 years) context. Rather than concentrating on best practice, as an objective account of how to teach reasoning, we adopt a post-structural theoretical …

Building Reputation: State-Sponsored Rebellions And Transnational Identities, Marion Mercier, Arthur Silve, Benjamin Tremblay-Auger

ESI Working Papers

States sometimes back rebellions abroad to signal resolve. We study this reputation-building logic in international relations, focusing on co-ethnic links between countries as an objective source of variation in a state’s incentives to demonstrate resolve. We formally derive two interconnected predictions from the mechanism: (a) a state is more likely to endorse the uprising of a foreign group when facing a larger audience, resulting in (b) greater political inclusion for the group. We build a comprehensive panel dataset of co-ethnic rebellion sponsorship, and find evidence consistent with both predictions.

Sustainable Crisis Management Framework For Suicide Response In The University Setting, Jonathan D. Maliwat

Journal Article

This study evaluates suicide response protocols at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) through a round table discussion involving 21 participants, including university officials, law enforcement officers, and campus security personnel. Utilizing the Rensis Likert method and agree-disagree questions, the study examines key concerns such as reporting suicide threats, police involvement in weapon-related incidents, and the establishment of guidelines for suicide-related deaths. Findings reveal gaps in protocol clarity, interagency coordination, and response efficiency. Based on these insights, the study recommends the development of well- defined policies, mandatory crisis response training, and strengthened multi-sectoral partnerships to enhance suicide prevention …

Corporate Governance And Tax Compliance Of Publicly Listed Companies In The Philippines, Hans Theo S. Ramirez, Jhulliane Kiss A. Mijares, Alyson Jane D. Constantino, Marwel B. Toledo, Jacob Marius L. Tolentino, Elma L. Mallorca

Journal Article

Corporate tax compliance is the key to the development of the economy. Annual effective tax rate is applied in this study to identify what corporate governance mechanisms—shareholders, management, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy—are responsible for inducing tax compliance. A panel regression analysis of 20 listed companies in the Philippines from 2012-2023 has shown that the sole determinant of corporate tax compliance is CSR strategy. Effective CSR practices help firms to minimize tax avoidance by paying the appropriate corporation tax rate mandated by law. This is an example of how CSR can enhance ethical financial behavior. This study integrates stakeholder, …

Integrity On The Line: An Action Research Investigation Into Cheating Behaviors Among Honors Students, Latasha Arda Smart

Theses and Dissertations

Academic dishonesty remains a persistent issue in education, undermining both learning and institutional integrity. While it has been extensively researched in general contexts, little is known about its occurrence in high-achieving settings such as honors classes, where students are frequently under increased performance pressure. This action research study investigated the prevalence, causes, and consequences of cheating behaviors among honors students at a rural high school.

The study centered on Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior, Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, and Merton's Strain Theory. Data were collected using a qualitative case study design, which included semi-structured interviews with students, teachers, and administrators, …

Populism And Its Effect On International Business Strategy, Julio Cesar Martinez Suarez

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the complex relationship between populism and international business strategy, with a particular focus on how populist mobilizations influence firms' location decisions and strategic planning. As populism continues to shape political dynamics globally, it presents significant challenges for businesses operating in or considering entry into markets governed by populist regimes. Utilizing institutional theory, this study examines the distinct political risks associated with populism, including anti-establishment ideology, the weakening of democratic institutions, and a tendency toward short-term, reactive policymaking. The research explores the consequences of these risks for firms, particularly in emerging markets, where populism often exacerbates uncertainty and …

Recommended Best Practices For Construct-Centered Adaptation Of The Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol, Emily Briceño, Darina Bassil, Pranali Khobragade, Anthony Ngugi, Martine Bejjani, Eric Ochieng, Silvia Mejia-Arango, Salima Douhou, Kazione Kulisewa, Miguel Rentería

Population Health, East Africa

Objectives The Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) neuropsychological assessment approach aims to support the collection of harmonizable data on cognitive function for cross-national cognitive aging and dementia research. As the measurement of cognition is sensitive to differences in contextual, cultural, educational, linguistic, social, and other factors that may influence cognitive test performance, HCAP requires adaptation to be appropriate for the contexts in which it is administered. We aim to provide methodological recommendations for the adaptation and implementation of the HCAP and other cognitive data collection tools in novel settings.

Methods We drew from existing guidelines on cross-cultural psychological test adaptation …

Association Between Weight Stigma Experiences In Healthcare And Self-Reported Healthcare Avoidance In A National Sample., Kathleen M. Robinson, Aaron M. Scherer, Alithea N. Zorn, Michelle A. Mengeling, Helena Laroche

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVES: Although weight stigma in healthcare is common, existing measures may not capture the full range of patients' weight stigma experiences in clinical practice. We aimed to examine how physical examination by healthcare providers, communication, and the built environment perpetuate weight stigma and impact healthcare avoidance. Items from the previously developed Weight Stigma in Healthcare Inventory (WSHCI) were tested to assess weight stigma experiences and assess association with healthcare avoidance.

METHODS: Two sample groups, identified through ResearchMatch and a Qualtrics survey panel, completed the WSHCI online. We analyzed the association between individual items and healthcare avoidance, and between a summation …

Analysis Of The Evolution Of Expert Opinion On Sustainability Policies Through The Neutrosophic Statis Method, Purificación Vicente Galindo

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Yet the problem of evaluating sustainability policies over time stems from needing to monitor the changing nature of expert agreement needed for dependency-based improvements in the environment. While this is undoubtedly helpful for relatively sustainable action, easier said than done requires methodological systems to assess how agreement grows and solidifies. Here it should be noted that the conventional STATIS approach, while successful in multivariate assessment, lacks the capacity to evaluate expert assessments factoring uncertainty, indeterminacy, and subjectivity. Therefore, this research goes on to fill this void with the neutrosophic STATIS method applied to a panel of experts assessing ten (10) …

Neutrosophic Classification Of The Factors That Shape The Professional Profile Of Students In Ecuadorian Higher Education, Ana Jacqueline Noblecilla Olaya, María Paredes Morales, Amor Lalama Franco, Dalva Icaza Rivera, Fabrizzio Andrade Zamora

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This article examines the professional profile of university students in the context of uncertainty of Ecuador. What constitutes this professional profile? Technical skills? Soft skills? Demands of the international and national market? This is relevant to the nation because the employability situation of the country depends on economic development. The correlation between higher education and economic development has been complicated by developments that exploit imperfectly educated people for demand within the employment market. Thus, a professional profile is neither the first study of such developments; however, few studies exist that assess the professional profile through uncertainty and contradiction which means …

Introduction: Dreaming The Daily Darg, Corey Gibson

Studies in Scottish Literature

Describes the scope of the Carnegie Trust -funded project on Working Lives in Scottish Writing since 1918, discusses the topics and theoretical perspectives explored in the research phase, noting both change and continuity from the treatment dominant in early and mid-20th century Scottish literary studies, and introduces the essays in this special issue and their contributions to the wider project theme.

Scottish Workers’ Stories Of Life And Labour During Covid-19 From The Workers’ Stories Project, Hailey Maxwell, Ruth Gilbert, Suki Sangha, Ewan Gibbs

Studies in Scottish Literature

This article explores how Scottish workers narrated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their life and work, by analysing 55 fifty-five submissions to the Workers' Stories Project. Between 2020 and 2022, the project creative reflections on the pandemic from workers across Scotland, drawing on the tradition of workers' inquiry and workers' education that encouraged critical reflection and the embrace of worker creativity. Submissions were overwhelmingly literary in form, primarily short prose supplemented by poetry, with three key themes emerging: intimacy and alienation; insecurity and status; and a slower living pace. Cumulatively, the stories underline how COVID-19 magnified workplace injustices …

The Role Of Language Ideologies In Saudi Elementary English Education: Efl Teacher’S Perspectives And Experiences, Ghanem Saad S Alghuwainem

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines how Saudi elementary English teachers understand and enact language ideologies in a period of rapid educational change and national reform. Using a comparative case study of five teachers in Al-Ahsa, the study triangulates semi-structured interviews, classroom audio recordings, and teaching materials to compare stated beliefs with observable practice. The analysis is guided by the theories of English hegemony and language and gender ideology, which together illuminate how global linguistic hierarchies are localized through teachers’ beliefs and practices. Findings reveal that teachers occupy an ideologically complex position as they balance the national push for English proficiency under Vision …

Too Much Of A Good Thing? Can Students Be Too Behaviorally Engaged, Rosemary Louise Odem

Theses and Dissertations

Student engagement in school is a key determinant of students’ academic success. Student engagement is commonly conceptualized as a meta construct comprised of three dimensions: emotional, cognitive, and behavioral engagement (Fredricks, 2015). Behavioral engagement, the focus of this study, is defined by positive conduct, involvement in learning and academic tasks, and participation in school-related activities (Fredricks et al., 2004). Some researchers have suggested that psychological strengths, like engagement, can be overused and result in maladaptive consequences (Niemiec, 2019; Oishi et al., 2007). This study addressed this notion using archival data from a sample of 422 students from one Southeastern US …

A Qualitative Study Exploring Teachers’ Beliefs And Practices Supporting African American Male Readers, Rhonda Douglas Sumter

Theses and Dissertations

Despite decades of educational reform, African American male students continue to experience persistent disparities in reading achievement. This qualitative case study explores the beliefs and pedagogical practices of three elementary educators identified as effective in supporting the reading development of African American males. Drawing on the frameworks of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (Ladson-Billings, 1995) and Critical Race Theory (Delgado & Stefancic, 2012), the study seeks to illuminate how educators affirm students’ identities, maintain rigorous expectations, and create responsive learning environments that foster academic success.

Data sources included in-depth teacher interviews and classroom observations. Thematic analysis revealed three interconnected practices across cases: …

Strategies For Developing Mathematical Identities In Middle School Students, Margaret M. Stevens

Theses and Dissertations

This concurrent mixed-methods action research study investigated the impact of mathematical discourse intervention on seventh-grade students’ mathematical identities and understanding. Twenty students participated in a four-week intervention implementing Smith and Stein’s (2018) five practices plus one framework.

Quantitative results showed curriculum-based assessments improved significantly (p < .001, d = 1.64). State mathematics assessment revealed minimal change in mean scores. The Mathematical Identity Questionnaire revealed positive shifts across all five constructs, with largest gains in Mathematical Initiative (+0.40) and Problem-Solving Persistence (+0.30). Qualitative analysis using Bingham’s (2023) five-phase process revealed three themes: Mathematical Voice Development, Identity Transformation Through Competence Building, and Communal Validation. Social Cognitive Theory and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy integration showed how discourse interventions addressed both individual self-efficacy and systemic inequities. Findings suggest intensive discourse intervention can initiate positive changes in mathematical identity and understanding for struggling students. Implications include restructuring mathematics instruction to prioritize student discourse and voice, creating more equitable learning environments.

Fue Evocations: A Culturally-Informed Performance Guide To Approaching Works For The Western Concert Flute Inspired By Traditional Japanese Flutes, Chase Michael Ketron

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this document is to create a culturally-informed and aesthetically accurate performance preparation guide for Western concert flute players seeking to perform works inspired by traditional Japanese flutes, or fue, such as the shakuhachi and nohkan.¹ While many pieces like these exist, there are limited resources detailing how to emulate the traditional Japanese flutes and their performance practices. The composers of these works often do well to provide notation for producing the specific sounds or effects they are trying to replicate, but these are non-standardized and thus vary from composer to composer. In addition, the traditional …

Signs & Symbols, Fall 2025, Illinois State University, Department Of Sociology And Anthropology

Signs & Symbols

Newsletter of the Illinois State University Department of Sociology and Anthropology. An email newsletter version of this document is available at https://web.archive.org/web/20260223203547/https://news.illinoisstate.edu/newsletters/signs-symbols-fall-25/.

The Motherhood Penalty On Health: Evidence From China, Ang Sun, Fang Xia, Xuan Zhang

Research Collection School Of Economics

Understanding women’s physical and mental well-being following childbirth is critical for informing policies on labor market equity, family support, and fertility. Using event study methods and panel data from China, we document a persistent motherhood penalty in both physical and mental health, whereas the health impacts on fathers are minimal. While mothers experience a temporary reduction in paid work hours, they face a sustained increase in unpaid domestic labor — housework and childcare — resulting in a net increase in total work time. This additional workload likely contributes to deterioration in health. Mothers are also more likely to engage in …

What’S In A Name? Re-Evaluating Early Medical Library Leaders In A Modern Context, Jennifer K. Lloyd

Library Faculty Publications

This paper will highlight two early medical librarians, Mary Louise Marshall (1893-1986) and William D. Postell, Sr (1908-1982) who were in our chapter’s region, although during their careers, SCC did not exist. While we cannot expect that historical figures have the same knowledge and values as our contemporary colleagues, we can evaluate their writings to see what internal biases were present.

Critically reappraising the work of our predecessors can be a difficult task, especially if these individuals were held in high esteem, won national awards and published important papers about medical librarianship. However, as theories are repudiated, re-evaluation is key. …

Professor Perspectives: Inclusion Of Students With An Intellectual Disability In Transition Programming On A College Campus, Melissa Jane Massey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students with intellectual disabilities (ID) are often unemployed or underemployed compared to students who do not have ID. Transition or postsecondary programming for students with ID has increased in recent years in response to the U.S. federal requirement for special education professionals to complete transition plans before students turn 16. The requirement for transition planning in Texas is age 14, and the ARD committee including the student and parent come together to develop goals for future planning. Transition plans include information on future employment, future independent living skills, and agency connections that students with ID may need to access to …

Closing The Graduation Gap: Factors That Impact The Graduation And Enrollment Rates Of First Generation African American Male Students At Predominantly White Christian Universities, Byron C. Johnson Jr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

First-generation African American male students encounter unique challenges on their journey through higher education. These challenges include inadequate academic preparation, limited family support, financial hardships, and difficulties in finding a sense of belonging. Additionally, factors such as race and religion present significant barriers that hinder their ability to persist in and graduate from colleges and universities without institutional support. Strategic initiatives, programs, and services that address the specific needs of these students are crucial for promoting their academic and social integration, ultimately influencing their success in higher education. This study focused on the experiences of successful first-generation African American students …

The Role Of Organizational Behavior Dimensions In Achieving Organizational Sustainability: The Moderating Impact Of Human Resource Development In The Iraqi Construction Sector, Ibraheem Ali Saadi

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This empirical research aims to examine the relationship between three core dimensions of Organizational Behavior (OB), namely, Organizational Commitment (ORC), Organizational Structure (OST), Employee Engagement (EME), and Organizational Sustainability (OS) within medium and large-scale construction firms operating in Iraq. In addition, the study explores the moderating role of Human Resource Development (HRD) on the interactions between these OB elements and OS. A structured questionnaire was administered to 216 senior executives, including CEOs and senior managers, yielding 161 valid responses that were analyzed using SPSS. The findings confirm that ORC, OST, and EME are all significantly associated with OS. However, HRD …

Can Singapore Be A City That Bounces Back And Gives Back?, Lily Kong

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

In a commentary, SMU President Professor Lily Kong called for a widened definition of sustainability in city-making. She proposed that cities must be resilient, regenerative and restorative (3Rs) — able to withstand shocks, replenish ecosystems, and restore human well-being. Prof Kong cited Singapore’s Draft Master Plan 2025 as an illustration of balancing technical innovation with inclusive engagement, stressing that trust is the “invisible infrastructure” of resilience. She also emphasised the role of universities as conveners of dialogue and innovation, spotlighting SMU’s co-convening of the City Dialogues in Vienna and its hosting of the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition, …

Decomposition And Excavation Of War Memories And Massacres In Na Hong-Jin’S The Wailing, Grace Jung

BCES: Faculty Publications

This chapter examines Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin’s The Wailing (2016) as an allegory of South Korea’s unresolved colonial and Cold War traumas, arguing that the film’s deliberate ambiguity, cacophony, and generic instability reflect the difficulty of recovering histories of violence that have been suppressed, erased, or inadequately mourned. While scholarship on South Korean zombie cinema has frequently interpreted the zombie through neoliberal capitalism, economic crisis, contagion, and social alienation, this chapter locates the Korean zombie within a longer history of civil war, massacres, sexual violence, and authoritarian state repression. Drawing on Heonik Kwon’s concept of Cold War “decomposition,” the zombie …

Intelligence As An Instrument Of National Power: Lessons Learned From The Tensions Between Serbia And Kosovo, Vadym Chernysh

Journal of Strategic Security

Intelligence activity is unique; it can be a valuable and powerful tool in the hands of state leaders. Leaders should rely not solely on their perception or intuition to leverage the intelligence instrument of national power but rather on understanding this phenomenon and its inherent qualities. Often, political leadership may confuse the functions of intelligence and law-enforcement agencies, leading to the ineffective or inefficient use of national power instruments to achieve strategic goals. Leveraging the intelligence instrument of national power in prolonged conflicts with a larger adversary is a crucial aspect of statecraft. The role of intelligence can be vital …