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Simulation Experiences Of Eal Prelicensure Nursing Students: An Integrative Review, Megan Ross Aug 2026

Simulation Experiences Of Eal Prelicensure Nursing Students: An Integrative Review, Megan Ross

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Globalization has increased the use of English as a common language in healthcare settings (Cheng et al., 2025). Additionally, nursing programs have increased the number of students who speak English as an additional language (EAL; Henry, 2023). EAL students often encounter unique challenges in nursing programs, including struggles with communication and cultural norms that can impact success (Henry, 2023). Simulation-based learning is an effective method to develop nursing students’ knowledge and skills (Alharbi et al., 2024). Despite its growing use, there was no comprehensive synthesis of research exploring EAL nursing students’ experiences with simulation-based learning at the time of …


Minority Stress As Mediator Of Ace-Substance Use Pathways: Sem Analysis Of Sexual Minorities, Meghna Shukla, Marvin Schilt-Solberg Aug 2026

Minority Stress As Mediator Of Ace-Substance Use Pathways: Sem Analysis Of Sexual Minorities, Meghna Shukla, Marvin Schilt-Solberg

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known determinants of negative health outcomes. Sexual minority (SM) individuals have higher ACE scores than non-SM individuals, and as a result also have worse health outcomes.According to the WHO, ACEs such as abuse & neglect are among the most severe forms of stress an individual may face, with extant literature identifying SM status and ACEs as predictors of substance use. There is a paucity of evidence examining the pathways between ACEs and substance use in SMs. Burgeoning evidence indicates minority stress is a strong predictor of substance use in SMs.

Purpose: To examine the …


Transforming Telehealth With Thrive: An Online Intervention For Nps Caring For Young Adults, Lisa V. Duffy Aug 2026

Transforming Telehealth With Thrive: An Online Intervention For Nps Caring For Young Adults, Lisa V. Duffy

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

AIM: To develop an online, video-based intervention for nurse practitioners (NPs) that illustrates best practices to establish therapeutic relational connection (TRC) during telehealth visits.

BACKGROUND: Telehealth offers many benefits for chronically ill young adults. Despite the potential benefits of virtual visits, little attention has been given to the quality of the virtual provider-patient relationship and its consequences. Relationships with healthcare providers that are characterized by a sense of TRC have the potential to increase self-management skills which are associated with improved physical, mental, and behavioral health outcomes. Although there are known benefits to TRC, what is not known are the …


Opioid Overdose Education For Outpatient Settings And Simulation Development, Nancy S. Goldstein, Tyler Langley, Brook Van Buskirk Aug 2026

Opioid Overdose Education For Outpatient Settings And Simulation Development, Nancy S. Goldstein, Tyler Langley, Brook Van Buskirk

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

In 2023, the National Institute of Health reported 79,358 U.S. overdose deaths caused by opioids. This value is 166% higher than data from 2017, with an opioid-induced death toll of 47,600.1 The rising rates of overdose require clinics to be prepared to respond to overdose emergencies.2 Literature analysis revealed gaps in provider response capability for opioid overdose in healthcare outpatient settings.3, 4, 5, 6 Thus, there is a need to address the gaps in emergency preparedness for an opioid overdose through simulation training of outpatient staff. The purpose of the pilot study is to develop a simulation …


Exploring Positive Deviance In Forensic Nursing Literature, Jodie C. Gary, Laurie Charles, Jaeda Onyemobi Aug 2026

Exploring Positive Deviance In Forensic Nursing Literature, Jodie C. Gary, Laurie Charles, Jaeda Onyemobi

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Positive deviance (PD) is an intentional act of breaking rules in order to serve the greater good.1 PD in nursing is intentional and honorable behavior that departs or differs from an established norm and contains elements of innovation, creativity, and/or adaptability; it also involves risk for the nurse.1 Nurses who use PD practice differently and more effectively to provide patient-centered care.2 Although professional standards guide patient care and lay the groundwork for best practices, they are not enough to guide many nursing decisions that involve multiple levels of uncertainty and risk in their practice; therefore, nurses may …


Driving Innovation: Transforming Adult Health Nursing Curricula Through Educational Advances, Suja P. Davis, Kunta Devi Punn Aug 2026

Driving Innovation: Transforming Adult Health Nursing Curricula Through Educational Advances, Suja P. Davis, Kunta Devi Punn

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background and Purpose: Traditional lectures while effective in delivering large amounts of information systematically fail to engage students actively, leading to disengagement and limited critical thinking.[1] Research indicates that active learning methods using educational innovations increase student participation, enhance their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. [2 ]The purpose of this project was to evaluate the learning outcomes of educational innovations implemented in an adult health course for nursing at Department of Nursing, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences (KUSMS), Nepal.

Methods: Several educational innovations such as flipped classroom, concept mapping, problem based learning, case study analysis, 2D illustrations and animations, …


Aligning The Rn-Bsn Program To The Un-Sdgs: An Evidence-Based Teaching Practice, Tess B. Bernardo Aug 2026

Aligning The Rn-Bsn Program To The Un-Sdgs: An Evidence-Based Teaching Practice, Tess B. Bernardo

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background/Introduction: The UN SDGs provide a globally recognized framework for addressing health equity, environmental sustainability, and social justice. Despite their relevance, integration of the SDGs into RN-BSN curricula remains limited and often lacks pedagogical coherence.

Purpose: This initiative aims to enhance learners’ capacity to critically engage with global health priorities and apply sustainability principles in clinical, community, and leadership contexts.

Methods or Processes/Procedures: A curriculum review was conducted to identify intersections between existing course objectives and SDGs, with emphasis on Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), Goal 4 (Quality Education), and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Faculty explored how a higher …


The End Of The Line: How Kim V. Hanlon Vanquished The County Line Ballot And Whether The New Jersey Electoral System Learned Its Lesson, Matthew E. Ertle Aug 2026

The End Of The Line: How Kim V. Hanlon Vanquished The County Line Ballot And Whether The New Jersey Electoral System Learned Its Lesson, Matthew E. Ertle

Seton Hall Journal of Legislation and Public Policy

No abstract provided.


Reinterpreting The Frequency Dependence Of Cortical Auditory-Evoked Response Amplitudes In Light Of Current Understanding Of Cortical Tonotopic Organization, Carl Rushworth, Alexander J. Hardy, Magdalena Sereda, Ben J. Gurer, Julien Besle, Susan T. Francis, Rebecca S. Dewey, Denis Schluppeck, Justin M. Ales, Vassilis Pelekanos, Michael A. Akeroyd, Katrin Krumbholz Aug 2026

Reinterpreting The Frequency Dependence Of Cortical Auditory-Evoked Response Amplitudes In Light Of Current Understanding Of Cortical Tonotopic Organization, Carl Rushworth, Alexander J. Hardy, Magdalena Sereda, Ben J. Gurer, Julien Besle, Susan T. Francis, Rebecca S. Dewey, Denis Schluppeck, Justin M. Ales, Vassilis Pelekanos, Michael A. Akeroyd, Katrin Krumbholz

School of Psychology

Tonotopy is a fundamental feature of auditory cortical organization, yet its influence on cortical auditory-evoked responses (AERs) remains unclear. Consequently, key properties of cortical AERs—such as their marked amplitude reduction with increasing stimulus frequency—still lack a coherent mechanistic explanation. To address this gap, we combined a meta-analysis of frequency-specific AER amplitudes with forward simulations of AERs informed by current knowledge of auditory cortical tonotopic layout and functional organization. The meta-analysis used a semi-systematic search covering all known automatic cortical AER components—both transient-evoked and steady-state—along with selected subcortical components for comparison. Forward simulations were based on a functional parcellation of the …


Integrating Forensic And Public Health Nursing: A Social-Ecological Approach To Addressing Ipv, Darcey Mccampbell Aug 2026

Integrating Forensic And Public Health Nursing: A Social-Ecological Approach To Addressing Ipv, Darcey Mccampbell

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive public health issue with far-reaching consequences for individuals and communities. Both public health nurses (PHN) and forensic examiners (FNE) play critical roles in addressing IPV. However, despite similarities and shared goals, these specialties often operate in isolation from one another.

Aim: This narrative review aims to summarize evidence on the interplay between PHN and FNE in addressing IPV. Using the social-ecological framework, the review identifies commonalities and areas of synergy across the individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and societal levels.

Methods: A bibliographic search was conducted using the PubMed electronic database. The search …


The Prophylactic Landscape: Sand And Typhoid On The Merrimack River, Laila Seewang Aug 2026

The Prophylactic Landscape: Sand And Typhoid On The Merrimack River, Laila Seewang

School of Architecture Faculty Publication and Presentations

“The first municipal water filter of the rapid sand type was built at Somerville, NJ, and thus began its wonderful history.”  By 1917 the rapid sand filter was the standard defense against typhoid epidemics in the United States.


Emergency Nurses' Perceptions Of Interpersonal Empathy When Caring For Department Superusers, Makeba K. Cavette Aug 2026

Emergency Nurses' Perceptions Of Interpersonal Empathy When Caring For Department Superusers, Makeba K. Cavette

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Compassion fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a significant challenge for healthcare professionals, particularly nurses in the emergency department (ED), due to the demanding, high-pressure nature of their work environment and their increased exposure to human suffering. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological descriptive study, guided by Nursing Theory of Personal Empathy, was to describe the meaning of ED nurses' interactions with superuser patients and how these interactions affect ED nurses' empathy and susceptibility to developing CFS. A purposive sample of 8 ED nurses with at least 3 years of experience as ED staff nurses working with superuser patients participated in semistructured …


A Proposal For A Program To Deliver Equitable Nursing Assignments, Laporsha Glover Aug 2026

A Proposal For A Program To Deliver Equitable Nursing Assignments, Laporsha Glover

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was conducted at an inpatient rehabilitation hospital that provides comprehensive interdisciplinary rehabilitation services for adults. Due to the diverse clinical needs of the rehabilitation patient population, nursing workload varies considerably based on patient acuity, functional status, cognitive impairment, medical complexity, and the intensity of nursing interventions required. This creates a practice gap that contributes to inequitable nursing assignments. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. Nine studies were critically appraised using the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice (JHNEBP) Evidence Appraisal Tools (Bissett et al., 2025). The …


Early Childhood Teachers’ Perceptions Of Early Childhood Teacher Leadership, Their Leadership Experiences, And Teacher Leadership Skill Development, Danyle Watkins Aug 2026

Early Childhood Teachers’ Perceptions Of Early Childhood Teacher Leadership, Their Leadership Experiences, And Teacher Leadership Skill Development, Danyle Watkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed in this study is that research into early childhood leadership has focused on early childhood directors and programs for leadership, but little research has been conducted on early childhood teachers’ (ECTs’) perceptions of the ECT leadership. Guided by the McCormick Center Whole Leadership Framework, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore ECTs’ perceptions on characteristics of teachers as leaders, their leadership experiences, and their leadership skill development in a Midwestern U.S. state. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 ECTs employed in licensed early childhood centers serving children from birth through …


Single Fluorogens And Orientation-Localization Microscopy For Quantifying Chemical And Biomolecular Dynamics At The Nanoscale, Yiyang Chen, Yuanxin Qiu, Matthew D. Lew Aug 2026

Single Fluorogens And Orientation-Localization Microscopy For Quantifying Chemical And Biomolecular Dynamics At The Nanoscale, Yiyang Chen, Yuanxin Qiu, Matthew D. Lew

Electrical & Systems Engineering Publications and Presentations

Many chemical systems look uniform only because ensemble measurements average over their most interesting molecules. Electron-transfer rates vary across electrode surfaces; lipid membranes contain nanodomains with distinct packing and fluidity; peptide aggregates exhibit local polymorphism; and biomolecular condensates contain transient networks of interactions that are blurred in ensemble images. A central challenge in chemical imaging is not simply to see smaller structures, but to measure chemical variables such as polarity, redox potential, and molecular confinement at the single-molecule level. In this Account, we describe how fluorogens, molecules whose brightness, blinking, spectral shifts, orientation, rotational mobility, and motion are directly shaped …


Bridging Risk And Retention: Risk Coping With Privacy And Hallucination In Ai, Don Shin, Azmat Rasul, Khuram Shahzad Aug 2026

Bridging Risk And Retention: Risk Coping With Privacy And Hallucination In Ai, Don Shin, Azmat Rasul, Khuram Shahzad

All Works

This study examines how users engage with generative AI systems in the presence of perceived technological risks, focusing on the interplay between risk perception, adaptive behavior, and continued use. Drawing on a risk coping perspective, the study conceptualizes generative AI use as an ongoing process in which users evaluate potential informational and privacy-related threats and adjust their practices accordingly. the analysis explores how perceived risks shape user attitudes, coping strategies, and patterns of sustained engagement. Rather than treating risk as a simple deterrent, the findings show that users often respond through adaptive behaviors such as information verification and privacy management, …


Ammonium Phosphate Fertilizers Are A More Effective Phosphorus Source Than Superphosphate For Wheat Grown On Acidic Gravelly Soils, Craig A. Scanlan, Raj Malik, Fien Degryse, Andrew Van Burgel, Mike J. Mclaughlin Aug 2026

Ammonium Phosphate Fertilizers Are A More Effective Phosphorus Source Than Superphosphate For Wheat Grown On Acidic Gravelly Soils, Craig A. Scanlan, Raj Malik, Fien Degryse, Andrew Van Burgel, Mike J. Mclaughlin

Grain and Other Field Crops Research Articles

Selecting the most effective phosphorus (P) fertilizer source is essential for maximizing crop yields. However, there is little information to guide the choice between the widely used soluble granular sources: ammonium phosphates and superphosphates. The aims of this study were to examine whether there are differences in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield response to ammonium phosphate and superphosphate fertilizers in field conditions, and if these differences relate to diffusion of P from fertilizer granules. Two field experiments were conducted on acidic gravelly soils in Western Australia where P deficiency occurs to compare wheat growth response to P applied …


Effects Of B422 Bacteriophage Resistance Mutations On Pectobacterium Versatile Fitness And Virulence, Alex Cherry Aug 2026

Effects Of B422 Bacteriophage Resistance Mutations On Pectobacterium Versatile Fitness And Virulence, Alex Cherry

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This Honors thesis project examines the impact of lipopolysaccharide mutations on the virulence of a bacteria susceptible to a bacteriophage suspected of using LPS structures as the basis for infection. In my prior work in the lab, I isolated a novel lytic bacteriophage against P. versatile. From host range testing performed in the lab, it is known to infect two strains of P. versatile, B422 and B35. The phage was then used to select for resistant mutants in a pool of B422 transposon mutants, and 20 phage-resistant mutants were identified. 60% of these mutants were found to have differences in …


Empowering Nursing Students Through Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Resources – An Rnao Initiative, Christina Oleynikov, Krussny Arunanthy, Hugo Tam Aug 2026

Empowering Nursing Students Through Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Resources – An Rnao Initiative, Christina Oleynikov, Krussny Arunanthy, Hugo Tam

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

In the past, nursing programs have made concerted efforts to include comprehensive Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (EDI) education [3,6]. Despite these attempts, there is an evident lack of support for accessible, peer-led resources to improve the uptake and application of such concepts in educational and practice settings [2]. Current literature also reflects a gap in research focusing on how EDI resources impact nursing students [1]. With promising past results from peer-driven engagement to increase self-efficacy in EDI [4,5], a similar approach should be used to encourage student-led knowledge translation and leadership initiatives. The purpose of this project was to identify …


Conceptual Framework And Key Considerations For Field-Based Infrastructure In Food Is Medicine Research, Shreela V Sharma, Colleen Tewksbury, Christopher R Long, Colleen Spees, Ronit A Ridberg, Reshma Gupta, Erin P Ferranti, Naomi Tice, Eric Peterson, Brian Levine Aug 2026

Conceptual Framework And Key Considerations For Field-Based Infrastructure In Food Is Medicine Research, Shreela V Sharma, Colleen Tewksbury, Christopher R Long, Colleen Spees, Ronit A Ridberg, Reshma Gupta, Erin P Ferranti, Naomi Tice, Eric Peterson, Brian Levine

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In 2023, the American Heart Association launched the Healthcare by Food (HCXF) initiative to establish a rigorous evidence base for Food Is Medicine (FIM) programs, so that patients with acute or chronic disease could access FIM programs as a covered benefit under their health insurance. The HCXF initiative is engaging in research, advocacy, and education to support the development and testing of interventions that improve health outcomes. The HCXF initiative launched 9 task forces aligned with research progress, including the Field-Based Infrastructure task force designed to examine broader questions to help support either earlier or later stages of the HCXF …


Consistent Phq-9 Administration At Mental Health Watch Initiation And Discharge In A Correctional Setting, Gouni Aicha Bouraima Aug 2026

Consistent Phq-9 Administration At Mental Health Watch Initiation And Discharge In A Correctional Setting, Gouni Aicha Bouraima

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project addressed inconsistent Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) administration and documentation at mental health watch initiation and discharge in a correctional setting. A baseline audit showed 42.1% PHQ-9 documentation compliance (8 of 19 charts), below the 90% organizational benchmark, limiting objective depression severity data needed for clinical decision-making and safe transitions. The practice-focused question was: Among nurses working with incarcerated individuals at mental health watch initiation and discharge, what is the impact of staff education on nurses’ knowledge of PHQ-9 screening protocols? The purpose was to implement structured staff education to improve nurses’ knowledge of PHQ-9 trigger points, …


An Exploration Of Successful Cloud Database Migration Strategies Used By Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises Leaders In The United States, Ashli Jarrett Aug 2026

An Exploration Of Successful Cloud Database Migration Strategies Used By Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises Leaders In The United States, Ashli Jarrett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cloud database migration can improve organizational performance in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but SME leaders are concerned about ineffective migration strategies, which can increase risks to data security, regulatory compliance, and operational continuity. Grounded in diffusion of innovation theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore the effective strategies SME leaders use to manage secure cloud database migrations, mitigate risks, enhance data security, ensure regulatory compliance, and improve organizational effectiveness. The participants were 10 SME leaders in the United States who had successfully adopted cloud-based database systems. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and publicly …


Stop Holding New York Workers Back: An Evaluation Of Non-Compete Agreements, Maxwell J. Nares Aug 2026

Stop Holding New York Workers Back: An Evaluation Of Non-Compete Agreements, Maxwell J. Nares

Seton Hall Journal of Legislation and Public Policy

No abstract provided.


A State Constitutional Mandate: The New Jersey Fair Housing Act Is Unfunded And Under Attack, Kirsten Nuber Aug 2026

A State Constitutional Mandate: The New Jersey Fair Housing Act Is Unfunded And Under Attack, Kirsten Nuber

Seton Hall Journal of Legislation and Public Policy

No abstract provided.


Implementation Of Visual Bed Indicator Lights To Improve Fall Prevention Processes, Andrea Leffew Aug 2026

Implementation Of Visual Bed Indicator Lights To Improve Fall Prevention Processes, Andrea Leffew

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Inpatient falls remain a significant patient safety concern associated with preventable patient harm, prolonged hospitalization, and increased healthcare costs. Routine fall bundle validations identified inconsistent adherence to safe bed configuration practices, such as beds left raised and bed alarms turned off.

Context: A 3-month quality improvement project was implemented on a 20-bed medical-surgical telemetry unit within an integrated healthcare delivery system at a 130-bed community hospital in Northern California, which was experiencing an increase in inpatient falls and fall-related sentinel events.

Interventions: Implementation of bed-monitoring technology with visual indicator lights that provided real-time feedback on bed configuration.

Measures: The …


Drying Kinetics And Shrinkage In Dual-Layer Earthen Buildings: In-Situ Assessment Of Cobbauge, Matthew Fox, Jim Carfrae, Jack Morewood, Mohamed Boutouil, François Streiff, Steve Goodhew Aug 2026

Drying Kinetics And Shrinkage In Dual-Layer Earthen Buildings: In-Situ Assessment Of Cobbauge, Matthew Fox, Jim Carfrae, Jack Morewood, Mohamed Boutouil, François Streiff, Steve Goodhew

School of Art, Design and Architecture

This case study investigates the long-term drying kinetics and shrinkage of CobBauge, a wet dual-layer earthen construction system undertaken upon the first UK CobBauge building. The methodology involved the use of Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) moisture sensors which were laid in a novel dual layer earthen material and enable moisture monitoring within the wall following construction. Average vertical shrinkage during the five-month monitoring period was 43 mm (2.05%), while average Volumetric Moisture Content (VMC) fell from 11%vol to 5.7%vol. There was little lateral movement and shrinkage was non-uniform. The study assessed the long-term drying kinetics of CobBauge in a wet, …


Helically Flexible Boron-Dipyrromethenes For Solution-Processed Isotropic Films With Preserved Chiral Exciton Coupling, Carolina Díaz-Norambuena, Juan Manuel Moreno-Naranjo, David Reger, Giuliano Siligardi, César Ray, Jessica Colligan, Florencio Moreno, Beatriz L. Maroto, Gilles Muller, Jorge Bañuelos, Matthew J. Fuchter, Santiago De La Moya Aug 2026

Helically Flexible Boron-Dipyrromethenes For Solution-Processed Isotropic Films With Preserved Chiral Exciton Coupling, Carolina Díaz-Norambuena, Juan Manuel Moreno-Naranjo, David Reger, Giuliano Siligardi, César Ray, Jessica Colligan, Florencio Moreno, Beatriz L. Maroto, Gilles Muller, Jorge Bañuelos, Matthew J. Fuchter, Santiago De La Moya

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Chiral organic thin films are emerging as key materials in advanced optoelectronic and chiroptical technologies, where the straightforward, solution-processed fabrication of chiroptically active neat films from small π-conjugated helical molecules is highly desirable for sustainable and scalable device integration. However, in such densely packed systems, the intrinsic chiroptical response is often compromised by macroscopic anisotropies (e.g., linear dichroism and birefringence) and aggregation-induced effects, which obscure genuine molecular signatures and induce or alter chiral exciton coupling. Here, we demonstrate that a readily accessible and conformationally flexible helically chiral boron-dipyrromethene dimer (helicoBODIPY) platform enables the reproducible fabrication of robust solution-processed neat thin …


Sense Of Purpose As The Guiding Light In Nursing Practice: A Grounded Theory Study, Kathleen Casler Aug 2026

Sense Of Purpose As The Guiding Light In Nursing Practice: A Grounded Theory Study, Kathleen Casler

Theses & Dissertations

Problem: As a prosocial profession, individuals may enter the practice of nursing because of an interest in helping and caring for others. However, over time, nurses may be challenged with experiences of burnout that can impact both their relationship with the profession and patient outcomes.

Background/Significance: A sense of purpose has been associated with positive physical, behavioral, and psychological outcomes. In a professional context, a sense of purpose may provide support for navigating complex work environments. It is currently not known what nurses’ experience of sense of purpose may be in relation to nursing practice and how their sense of …


Drivers Of Stopover Distribution Across Two Autumn Migration Routes Of A Long-Distance Afro-Palearctic Migrant, The Common Cuckoo (Cuculus Canorus), Alex Gale, Máire Kirkland, Phil Atkinson, Robert Puschendorf, Chris Hewson Aug 2026

Drivers Of Stopover Distribution Across Two Autumn Migration Routes Of A Long-Distance Afro-Palearctic Migrant, The Common Cuckoo (Cuculus Canorus), Alex Gale, Máire Kirkland, Phil Atkinson, Robert Puschendorf, Chris Hewson

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Across the globe, many long-distance migratory birds have undergone population declines. Understanding the environmental factors which underly migratory stopover locations can inform conservation strategies for such species. Here, we identify environmental predictors of autumn stopover sites used by UK-breeding male cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) migrating to centralAfrican wintering grounds via two alternative flyways. Between 2011 and 2021, 88 male cuckoos from UK breeding grounds were fitted with <5 g satellite tags connected to the Argos satellite-based tracking system. Filtered stopovers were used to build presence-pseudoabsence distribution models for each flyway, using Boosted Regression Tree and Random Forest algorithms with thirteen climatic, habitat, topographic and anthropogenic variables. Performance was evaluated using 10-fold cross-validation, and weighted ensembles were generated. To assess drought sensitivity, we produced predictions for high- and low-drought years based on Standardised Precipitation–Evapotranspiration Indices (SPEI). Models performed well (AUC=0.79–0.88; TSS=0.50– 0.66) and revealed route-specific environmental predictors. Along the western route, stopover probability was highest in cooler, semi-humid, high-elevation areas with low contemporaneous drought; Iberian mountain ranges emerged as key sites. Along the eastern route, stopover probability was greatest in heterogeneous habitat, with lowlands and uplands favoured over intermediate elevations; the Po watershed appears particularly important. Hunting risk (included to assess anthropogenic threat) was also high at key areas. The spatial extent of stopover regions—and the probability of them being utilised—declined during years ofhigh short-term drought along the western route, and high long-term drought along the eastern route. Whilst Iberian montane stopover regions are sensitive to increasing drought and aridity under climate change, their topographic heterogeneity may provide climatic refuge while limiting intensive land uses. Preference for heterogeneous habitat within the Po watershed highlightsthe need to retain semi-natural habitat within agricultural landscapes. We recommend route-specific conservation measures and higher resolution models using newly available GPS tags to better understand fine-scale site selection within the regions highlighted here.


Supporting Students’ Self-Efficacy And Motivation In The Mathematics Classroom, Audrie H. Cox Aug 2026

Supporting Students’ Self-Efficacy And Motivation In The Mathematics Classroom, Audrie H. Cox

Masters Projects

This project examines the role of mathematics self-efficacy in supporting student motivation, engagement, and achievement in secondary mathematics classrooms. Through a review of current research, the project identifies instructional practices that strengthen students' confidence in their mathematical abilities, including formative assessments, meaningful feedback, supportive teacher-student relationships, and opportunities for productive struggle. Drawing on these findings, a professional development workshop session was developed to equip secondary mathematics teachers with practical, research-based strategies that promote positive mathematics self-efficacy and improve overall classroom instruction. By translating research into actionable teaching practices, this project aims to support more confident, motivated, and successful mathematics learners.