Digital Commons Network^™

Civil Servant Disobedience: An Alternative Legal Strategy To Prevent Bureaucratic Pathology, Richo Andi Wibowo

The Indonesian Journal of Socio-Legal Studies

This paper seeks to provide conceptual and empirical justifications for civil servants to engage in disobedience to curb bureaucratic pathology. Various civil servants have long complained that they face illegal instructions from their superiors. The cases discussed here are from public procurement, which has a dimension of political corruption, a recurring problem in many places in Indonesia. Thus, the problem shall be seen as a bureaucratic pathology rather than as maladministration. As the reporting of superiors to legal enforcers may be too risky, the disobedience can be accomplished by refusing to cooperate with superiors who give illegal instructions. The term …

Evaluation Of A Theoretical And Experiential Training Programme For Allied Healthcare Providers To Prescribe Exercise Among Persons With Multiple Sclerosis: A Co-Designed Effectiveness-Implementation Study, Yvonne C. Learmonth, Georgios Mavropalias, Kym Wansbrough

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most prevalent neurological disorder in young adults, characterised by physical, psychological and cognitive dysfunction. Exercise training is a safe management strategy. Healthcare providers (HCPs) acknowledge deficiencies in awareness, counselling strategies, and resources that prevent them from promoting and prescribing this effective treatment. We implemented an online evidence-based educational programme and evaluated the effect, acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of the programme in improving HCP confidence, knowledge, and attitudes towards remote exercise prescription to persons with MS. Methods: Physiotherapists and exercise physiologists were recruited and received the educational programme (online theory and 16-week experience of prescribing …

Lower Limb Muscle Strength Matters: Effect Of Relative Isometric Strength On Countermovement And Rebound Jump Performance In Elite Youth Female Soccer Players, Jack Fahey, Paul Comfort, Nicholas Joel Ripley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Expression of maximal and rapid force in the hip, knee, and plantar flexors is important for athletic performance in female soccer. This study was designed to determine the effect of relative isometric strength in the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) on countermovement jump (CMJ) and rebound jump (CMJ-R) performance in female youth soccer players. Methods: Ninety-six female soccer players (age: 14.1 ± 2.3 years, height: 160.5 ± 9.7 cm, mass: 55.0 ± 10.3 kg) completed three trials of the IMTP, CMJ, and CMJ-R using force plates. Players were categorized as stronger (top quartile, n = 19) and weaker players (bottom …

Renewable-Based Isolated Power Systems: A Review Of Scalability, Reliability, And Uncertainty Modeling, Mehrdad Ghahramani, Daryoush Habibi, Seyyedmorteza Ghamari, Hamid Soleimani, Asma Aziz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Electric power systems are increasingly becoming more decentralized. Many communities depend on isolated power systems that operate independently of the main grid. Remote, islanded, and isolated systems face challenges due to the intermittency and unpredictability of renewable energy sources. This paper reviews the current status of renewable integration and control in stand-alone power systems. It examines techniques to enhance system reliability through energy storage, hybrid systems, and advanced predictive models. Additionally, the issues related to connecting stand-alone systems, focusing on reliability and renewable penetration, are discussed. The scalability of stand-alone power systems is analyzed based on classifications of small-, medium-, …

The Luminos Project: Co-Designing A Short-Stay Suicide Support Model For Young People, Aims Hansen, Samantha Speirs, Kirsten Panton, Jacinta Freeman, Zrinka Highfield, Kieren Marshall, Eleanor Tighe, Laura Hemming, Bep Uink, Francis Mitrou, Vu Vuong, Ashleigh Lin

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Suicide was the leading cause of death among young Australians aged 15–24 years old in 2023, with 392 lives lost. The continued high numbers of youth suicide demand urgent exploration of alternative approaches to suicide intervention in this population. The United Kingdom-based suicide service Maytree offers an innovative short-term stay for people experiencing suicidal thoughts. Grounded by the Maytree model-of-care, the aim of the current study was to co-design a short-stay service responsive to the specific needs of suicidal young people. Methods: Semi-structured and focus group interviews with young people (n = 38), caregivers (n = 11) and key …

Patterns Of Ecological Quality In Portuguese Transitional Waters Over The Last Five Decades: A Framework Based On Benthic Foraminifera For The Sado Estuary, J. Moreno, F. Moreno, F. Fatela, E. Leorri, M. Leira, P. Masqué, M. C. Freitas

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study aimed to examine the validity of benthic foraminifera-based indices – Foraminiferal Stress Index (FSI), diversity index Exp(H'bc), and Ecological Quality Ratio (EQR) – for evaluating estuarine environmental conditions and supporting palaeoecological reconstructions, focusing on the Sado estuary (southwest Portugal). Located near heavily industrialized urban areas and designated as a Nature Reserve, this estuary faces human pressures and high natural values, leading to management conflicts. Foraminiferal assemblages were analysed in surface sediment samples, with known concentrations of several metal(loid)s, and in dated core samples. Correlations were found between metal(loid)s, organic matter, grain size, and salinity (as a proxy for …

A Comprehensive Review On The Recovery Of Lithium From Lithium-Ion Batteries And Spodumene, Asad Ali, Sadia Afrin, Abdul Hannan Asif, Yasir Arafat, Muhammad Rizwan Azhar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The growing demand for Lithium-Ion batteries (LIBs) for use within varied electronics and electric vehicles (EVs) has raised concerns about the sustainability of lithium extraction from natural deposits. This study provides a comprehensive comparison of lithium recovery through mining of spodumene deposits, and the recovery of lithium from used batteries via recycling, in terms of technological, economic and environmental impacts. Lithium recovered through mining and refining operations prompt significant land disruption and soil contamination and possess large ecological, water and carbon footprints. Contrastingly, lithium recovered through battery recycling undergoes successive heat and chemical treatments, leading to waste minimisation and a …

Temperature-Dependent Properties Of Cu-Doped Znte Thin Films Deposited On Slg Substrates Via Rf Magnetron Sputtering And E-Beam Techniques, Sherif Salah, Camellia Doroody, Fazliyana ‘Izzati Za'abar, Zheng Jie Feng, Prajindra Sankar Krishnan, Ahmad Wafi Mahmood Zuhdi, Muhammad Najib Harif, Nur Irwany Ahmad, Yap Boon Kar, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Copper doping in zinc telluride (ZnTe) thin films has been extensively studied for optoelectronic applications; however, challenges remain in optimizing temperature-dependent diffusion while minimizing defect-related emissions. Although numerous studies have explored Cu-doped ZnTe, comprehensive investigations using electron-beam (E-beam) evaporation remain limited, especially concerning its influence on diffusion dynamics, defect formation, and electrical properties. This study systematically examined Cu-doped ZnTe films fabricated via E-beam evaporation with a fixed 50 nm Cu layer deposited at three substrate temperatures (RT, 150 °C, and 300 °C), followed by rapid thermal annealing (RTA) at 100 °C and 200 °C for 1 h under a nitrogen …

Irp Commercial Trailer Data Feasibility Study, Brian Howell, Jennifer Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study evaluates the feasibility for developing and maintaining a comprehensive tractor truck trailer database. The commercial motor vehicle (CMV) community currently lacks a cross-jurisdictional, centralized repository for commercial trailers registered in United States and Canadian jurisdictions. Existing federal databases provide information on interstate commercial motor carriers, vehicles, and drivers but exclude trailers. Similarly, IRP and IFTA do not collect trailer-level data, and trailer data is displayed inconsistently across its customer base. Approximately one fifth of violations in Kentucky during inspections from 2020 to 2022 were attributed to trailers, including worn tires, inadequate brakes or improper registration. The rise of …

Formation Of A Prism-Focused Working Group To Address Mcrs Issues And Expanded Prism Requirements, Brian Howell, Robin Baskette, Jennifer Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study, sponsored by the International Registration Plan (IRP), Inc. in partnership with the Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC), examined systemic challenges and opportunities to strengthen two critical safety oversight mechanisms in U.S. commercial vehicle operations—the Motor Carrier Responsible for Safety (MCRS) and the Expanded Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM) program. The research traced the evolution of federal and state data systems used to identify and monitor carriers, emphasizing the modernization role of the IRP Data Repository (IDR). The IDR now provides a secure, centralized platform for daily vehicle registration data and financial transactions, facilitating the exchange of carrier …

Natural Health Community Program And Well-Being: An Uncontrolled Study Of Women Survivors Of Domestic Violence, Madeline M. Glawe, Lee Za Ong, Karisse A. Callender, Barbara Wesson, Erin C. Schubert

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a local natural healing service program and to explore how engagement in natural healing services related to the well-being of survivors of domestic violence. Using longitudinal secondary data, we conducted t-tests, regression, and correlation analysis on three measures (hope, distress, and empowerment) that were completed by the participants (N = 31). We provided evidence of the positive impact of a community-based natural healing services program on the well-being of survivors of domestic violence, specifically their sense of hope. This research represents the potential for natural healing services provided at the …

Electromagnetic Treatment Enhancing Performance Of Metal Materials: A Review, Lechun Xie, Hongxin Sun, Yan Wen, Lin Hua, Lai Chang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Due to the limitations of traditional metal processing methods, including high energy consumption, slow process dynamics and possible introduction of defects, electromagnetic treatment has been highlighted as a more environment-friendly and energy-efficient alternative, which can efficiently and selectively enhance material properties. This article summarizes the latest advances in electromagnetic treatment of metal materials to enhance material performance and outlooks the directions in electromagnetic treatment technology. It delves into electromagnetic field applications in manipulating the microstructure and properties. First, it explores the potential mechanisms of interaction between electromagnetic fields and metal materials, including thermal and athermal effects. Afterwards, it provides a …

Scale Model And Ship Simulator Towing Of The Iea 15 Mw Wind Turbine On The Umaine Volturnus-S Platform, Adam Roberts, Frédéric Le Pivert, Saied Kazemi, Tom Tosdevin, Adán López-Santander, Matthew J. Craven, Lars Johanning

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Floating offshore wind turbines are expected to be deployed in significant numbers across the globe in the coming decades, with wet towing of these structures between ports and farms a key operation in their installation, maintenance, and decommissioning. Platforms are likely to be towed across large distances, and accurate understanding of tow dynamics will be crucial to optimising these journeys to minimise costs, timescales, emissions, and risk. This paper presents experimental and ship simulator modelling of the oceanic towing of the IEA 15 MW turbine on the UMaine VolturnUS-S platform. The work provides indicative data for floating offshore wind turbines …

Polydrug Abuse: Choice Between Drugs As A Function Of Concurrent Nonindependent Ratio Sizes, Richard A Meisch, Thomas H Gomez, Scott D Lane

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Polydrug abuse is the persistent self-administration of more than one reinforcing drug. The present study provided rhesus monkeys concurrent access to two drugs: 8% alcohol and solutions of either cocaine or methadone. The liquids were available under concurrent nonindependent fixed-ratio (FR) schedules across increasing and then decreasing ratio sizes. These schedules generate high rates of changeover responses and yield a dependent variable of responses per delivery that is not rigidly tied to the ratio-schedule value. The programmed schedule size was equal for both liquids and increased in the sequence 8, 16, 32, and so on until responding decreased, whereupon the …

Habit And The Potential For Actor Training With Immersive And Virtual Production Technology, John Matthews

School of Art, Design and Architecture

The advance of immersive and virtual technologies draws into starker contrast the analogue modalities of dominant approaches to actor training and makes more visible certain of their dynamics, which are analysed here using a philosophical framework of habit and habitus as propositionally causative. This technology is disruptive to habit and habitus in actor training and signifies potential to experiment with these dynamics to address extant problems in actor training. Problems in training habitus discussed here derive from trainers’ habits but arise primarily for trainees, and especially so for certain groups. I use Lazlo Pearlman and Deirdre McLaughlin’s critique of the …

Father-Land: Narratives Of Memory In A Place Of Conflict, Kayla Parker

School of Art, Design and Architecture

The chapter shares critical insights into and reflective analysis of the screenwriting process for the author's essay film Father-land (2018), made collaboratively with the sound artist and film-maker Stuart Moore through an artists' research residency in Nicosia, the only divided capital city in Europe. During the residency, the film-makers lived close to the demilitarized Buffer Zone - a physical border controlled by the United Nations, which has separated the Greek Cypriot south from the Turkish-occupied north since the violent conflict that tore the island in two in 1974. Their day-to-day experience of this fractured urban landscape, inflected by their childhood …

Neurologists' Perspectives On Sudep Communication: A Comparative Study Across Five European Countries, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

Objectives: The leading cause of epilepsy mortality is Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). National and international guidelines recommend that people with epilepsy are counseled on SUDEP risk at the point of diagnosis or at the earliest opportunity. This study compares neurologist views from five European countries on attitudes and relevance of SUDEP communication. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of 17 Likert questions using validated themes was circulated via different ILAE and/or equivalent organizations using a non-discriminatory exponential snowballing technique, leading to a non-probability sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kruskal–Wallis, Chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests. Significance was accepted …

Old Frames On New Media: Health Misinformation In Black Digital Communities, Merriah Croston

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Growing evidence suggests that health misinformation has the potential to proliferate on social media. However, our understanding of the problem’s magnitude continues to evolve. Despite several studies on health misinformation and Black communities in the United States (U.S.), few of these studies characterize misinformation within digital settings. This dissertation seeks to address this gap by: 1) synthesizing the literature on health misinformation and Black communities to identify prevalent misinformation topics and claims, characteristics of exposure to and belief in these topics and claims, and successful intervention strategies; 2) quantifying and characterizing the volume of COVID-19 misinformation on Black Twitter during …

Acoustic Emission Sensing For Assessing Compressive Strain In Impacted Thermoplastic Composites, M. M. Shahzamanian, Li Ai, Sydney Houck, Md Mushfiqur Rahman Fahim, Sourav Banerjee, Paul Ziehl

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Composite materials used in aircraft during in-flight service are vulnerable to impacts, which can lead to undetected damage and deterioration. Impact incidents can cause considerable structural harm that might not be immediately apparent, resulting in a decline in the mechanical properties of material and overall performance. There are currently limited advanced models capable of assessing the state of compressive strain (or stress) in a compression after impact (CAI) test based on acoustic emission (AE) data. Developing such a model may enable real-time monitoring and evaluation during in-flight service, providing users with alerts when composite material failure is approaching. This paper …

Closing The Youth Activity Gap Through School District–Community Partnerships, Joseph Anthes

Journal of Youth Development

A growing divide in physical activity amongst youth, fueled by the privatization of youth athletic programs, most negatively impacts underrepresented students. Intramural-sports programs hold the potential to engage more of our youth in physical activity, including those from marginalized populations. Utilizing a collective impact approach, school-community partnerships can create opportunities for access and strive toward equity in youth health. This study evaluates a partnership between a school district and a regional health care provider that resulted in the creation of a youth intramural-sports program by describing the partnership’s implementation strategies and by comparing first year enrollment data. Implementation strategies include: …

Full Issue, Volume 20, Issue 3

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

Machine Learning-Based Electric Vehicle Charging Demand Forecasting: A Systematized Literature Review, Maher Alaraj, Mohammed Radi, Elaf Alsisi, Munir Majdalawieh, Mohamed Darwish

All Works

The transport sector significantly contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions, making electromobility crucial in the race toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In recent years, the increasing competition among manufacturers, the development of cheaper batteries, the ongoing policy support, and people’s greater environmental awareness have consistently increased electric vehicles (EVs) adoption. Nevertheless, EVs charging needs—highly influenced by EV drivers’ behavior uncertainty—challenge their integration into the power grid on a massive scale, leading to potential issues, such as overloading and grid instability. Smart charging strategies can mitigate these adverse effects by using information and communication technologies to optimize EV charging …

Pine Fruit Activated Carbon Modified With Cuco2se4 For The Application In High-Performance Battery-Type Supercapacitor, Farshad Tavakoli, Ali A. Ensafi, Behzad Rezaei

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Biomass has attracted considerable interest in the field of energy storage because of its outstanding characteristics, such as superior charge transport ability, affordability, eco-friendly, structural versatility, and renewability. Moreover, biomass-derived activated carbons, combined with pseudocapacitive materials, have recently gained popularity as efficient electrochemical components for energy storage devices. In this study, activated carbon was prepared from pinecone flowers as the biomass precursor through a process involving alkaline treatment and pyrolytic carbonization in an inert gas environment. Subsequently, CuCo2Se4 nanoparticles (CCS) were synthesized on the Pine Fruit Activated Carbon (PFAC) surface via a hydrothermal method. CCS serves as a pseudocapacitive material …

The Moderating Role Of Digital Multi-Sided Platform On The Firm Value Of Traditional Value-Chain Firms, Chee Pheng Lim

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

This dissertation examines the strategic value and performance implications for traditional value-chain firms (TVCFs) that adopt digital multi-sided platforms (DMSPs) to augment their existing businesses. DMSPs facilitate interactions among multiple user groups through digital intermediaries, generating self-reinforcing network effects that enhance value creation, reduce operational and transaction costs, and enable collective innovation. Despite the prevalence of platform-based firms, 60% of global unicorns and 7 of the world’s 10 most valuable companies operate digital platforms, empirical research on the value-creation mechanisms of DMSPs remains limited. Anchored in the resource-based view and platform theory, this study investigates how DMSP moderates the relationship …

Preliminary Investigation Of The Potential Health Risks Of Non-Formfitting Body Armor With A Focus On Female Warfighters, Melissa Sutter, Catherine E. Johnson

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Introduction Body armor is an important piece of protective equipment for warfighters in battlefield environments. With more women now filling military roles, body armor designs may need to be further refined to accommodate the female anatomy instead of the male-based unisex designs. Unisex designs have been found to have negative effects on female warfighter performance, resulting in discomfort, breathing difficulty, and air gaps forming between the armor and torso. This study aimed to investigate increased injury risk because of air gaps from shock wave exposure on warfighters wearing nonform-fitting armor and the influence of material properties. Based on literature, lowered …

Balancing Act: Addressing Child Quantity-Quality Trade-Off In The Philippines Households With Educational And Health Social Programs, John Andrew A. Alsol, Zed Tristan L. Dy, Maire Carroline T. Magante

Economics Department Faculty Publications

The child quantity-quality (CQQ) trade-off has been extensively studied in economic research since it was first introduced by Becker and Lewis in 1973. Studies have argued that the current economic circumstances and the presence of government aid in education and health determine the existence and extent of the CQQ trade-off. However, there is a dearth of empirically tested research on the possible decreasing effects of social programs on the CQQ trade-off. Using the 2019 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey, this paper seeks to determine the effect of education and health social programs on the CQQ trade-off in the Philippines. Probit models …

Short–Range Hard–Sphere Potential And Coulomb Interaction: Deser–Trueman Formula For Rydberg States Of Exotic Atomic Systems, Gregory S. Adkins, Ulrich D. Jentschura

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

In exotic atomic systems with hadronic constituent particles, it is notoriously difficult to estimate the strong-interaction correction to energy levels. It is well known that, due to the strength of the nuclear interaction, the problem cannot be solved using Wigner–Brillouin perturbation theory alone. Recently, high-angular-momentum Rydberg states of exotic atomic systems with hadronic constituents have been identified as promising candidates in the search for new physics in the low-energy sector of the Standard Model. We thus derive a generalized Deser–Trueman formula for the induced energy shift for a general hydrogenic bound state with principal quantum number n and orbital angular …

The Effects Of Covid-19 On Mice Tourism, Gülay Cakmak, Gurel Cetin, Cemil Kilic, Erol Sozen

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

The sector of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism play an integral role in the tourism industry not only because of its volume but also per capita spending. MICE tourism is predominantly characterized by its international reach and the significant number of participants it attracts. However, Covid-19 pandemic precipitated a marked, leading to far-reaching ramifications and transformations. This study is focused on evaluating the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the MICE tourism sector. It aims to explore both the anticipated and the actual shifts within the industry amidst the pandemic. Adopting a qualitative research methodology, this investigation utilized …

The Double-Edged Role Of Cognitive Reappraisal: A Moderated Mediation Model Of Manager Support And Emotional Exhaustion Among Hotel Supervisors, Han Chen, Yvette Green

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

Applying the Conservation of Resources Theory and the Affective Event Theory, this study explores the interplay between perceived manager support (PMS), negative emotions, and emotional exhaustion among hotel supervisors. The study also examines the moderating role of cognitive reappraisal strategy on the above relationships. Data were collected from a sample of U.S. hotel supervisors. Results showed that negative emotions play a mediating role in the relationship between PMS and supervisors’ emotional exhaustion. Cognitive reappraisal amplified the negative effect of PMS on negative emotions, the positive relationship between negative emotions and emotional exhaustion, and the indirect effect of PMS on emotional …

Customer Food Intake: An Empirical Analysis Of Gender, Restaurant Use And Attitude Toward Fast Food Among Adolescents And Young Adults, In Nairobi, Kenya, Gerishom G. Madivoli, Rosemarie Ayuma Khayiya, Beatrice Kamau

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

Fast food is the fastest- growing food category worldwide, providing young people and adolescents with a quick, cost- effective, and easily accessible alternative to home- cooked meals. There has been considerably less research into how gender, restaurant usage, and attitudes influence patterns of fast- food consumption. Moreover, the growth of the fast- food industry in every nation creates a significant environmental impetus for increasing fast food consumption and promoting unhealthy eating behaviours. If this issue is not addressed, the prevalence of lifestyle diseases such as obesity, along with the costs of managing these conditions, will escalate, particularly in Kenya. This …