Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring An Asset-Based Framework For The Ethics Of Care In Rural Communities, Phillip D. Grant, J. Kessa Roberts, Jamon H. Flowers

The Rural Educator

This article introduces asset-based innovation in rural education (ABIRE) as a framework for rethinking school improvement in rural communities and integrates the ethics of care as a conceptual lens to view improvement efforts. Rather than focusing on external problems or shortcomings, ABIRE centers the strengths, relationships, and resources already present in rural contexts. The framework offers a relational and locally responsive approach to educational change by drawing on principles from the ethics of care, improvement science, and asset-based community development. Through asset mapping, educators and leaders can engage in cycles of inquiry that are grounded in place and driven by …

Recovery As Relational Care: Integrating Policy, Education, And Community Resilience In Rural Appalachia, Jon Dance, Josh Thompson

The Rural Educator

Despite national media attention and significant policy investment, substance use epidemics continue to impact Central Appalachia. Inequities affecting rural communities and persistent stigma create significant barriers to well-being and recovery. Recovery, however, is more than a healthcare issue; it is a relational and community-rooted process that must involve education, policy, and care. In this article, we reframe deficit-oriented conceptions of recovery to highlight the vital role of relational care and community collaboration in promoting wellness in rural Appalachia. We offer the Community Resiliency Model (CRM) as a practical, evidence-informed strategy to foster emotional regulation, coregulation, and community resilience. We call …

Beyond Community To Collective Care: Reimagining Inclusion For Rural Students With Disabilities, Y. Radeen Yang, Katie M. Mccabe, Sarah Bubash, Carlyn Mueller

The Rural Educator

This conceptual piece examines how prevailing notions of community in rural schools influence inclusive education practices for students with disabilities. While rural communities often emphasize care and belonging, these values can mask exclusionary practices when inclusion is treated as sameness or is assumed rather than actively cultivated. We explore how disability is acknowledged or overlooked within rural community traditions and how these dynamics sustain outdated models of special education service delivery and reinforce exclusionary practices. To reframe inclusion as a collective and relational practice, we introduce a care-based framework rooted in three interrelated components: mattering, interdependence, and accountability. Informed by …

(Un)Just Transitions For Youth And The Disabled? The Exclusionary Pressures Facing Science, Technology, Engineering And Mathematics (Stem) Education, Elizabeth Done, Helen Knowler, Irina Lazar, Sylvia Hayes, Joshua Lait, Andrea Perez-Porres

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This paper highlights the under-representation of young people with disabilities in STEM subjects and career pathways, with particular reference to the engineering sector given its prominent role in the design of energy systems related to net-zero policies. We consider the role of physical infrastructure, and pedagogic and representational practices, in facilitating the marginalisation and under-representation of young people with disabilities. Ultimately, we seek a broader understanding of the ‘just transition’ that acknowledges the role of education in ensuring the active participation of all young people, regardless of learning difficulty or disability or social identity, in that transition. The research is …

Comorbidities And Emotions - Unpacking The Sentiments Of Pediatric Patients With Multiple Long-Term Conditions Through Social Media Feedback: A Large Language Model-Driven Study, Temidayo Oluwalade, Hossein Ahmadi, Lin Huo, Richard Sharpe, Shang-Ming Zhou

School of Nursing and Midwifery

ObjectivesThe emotional and psychological challenges faced by children with multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) remain underexplored. This study aimed to analyze sentiments and emotions expressed by this vulnerable population and their caregivers on social media, assess the effects of comorbidities and the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional well-being.MethodsNarratives from the Care Opinion platform (2008–2023) were analyzed by a model called CoEmoBERT, developed using the large language model, distilroberta-base transformer model. The CoEmoBERT-based sentiment analysis categorized emotions into “Positive”, “Negative”, and “Neutral,” with further refinements into specific emotions such as “Sad,” “Fear”, “Satisfied” etc. through pretraining and transferring process. Comorbidity associations with emotions …

Risk Factors To Predict Mortality In People With Seizures Reattending Emergency Departments: A Dual-Centre Study, Rohit Shankar, Madeline Dale, Sarah Lennard, William Henley, Brendan Mclean, Mark Jadav, Richard Laugharne, Gurjit Chohan, Sarah Trippier, Laura Sewell, Jamie Ford, Sarah Davis

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Recurrent seizure-related emergency department (ED) attendances are common and associated with poor outcomes. We aimed to identify factors associated with repeated seizure-related ED use and to develop a mortality risk score among individuals re-attending with seizures. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study across two district general hospitals in South-West England, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCH; 2015–2018) and Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Trust (RUH; 2018–2022). Adults (≥18 years) with ≥2 seizure-related ED attendances were included. Negative binomial regression was used to examine demographic and clinical predictors of repeat attendances. A risk score based on these predictors was …

Hypertension Prevention Program And Its Effects On Blood Pressure Levels Among Young Adults In A Christian Community In Southwest Michigan, Cindel Hollancid

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Although the majority of patients who present are adults over the age of 40 years old; with blood pressures ranging from 140/88 – 190/110 and many times higher readings, it was intriguing and important to assess whether a direct intervention, teaching young adults ages 18 – 39 years the benefits of lifestyle choices would be beneficial as a preventative measure to implement for hypertension reduction patterns as one ages. According to Hinton et al. (2019), hypertension affects 1 in 8 adults between the ages of 20 and 40 years old and is thus common among young people; with the …

Effects Of Aromatherapy On Promoting Sleep In Patients With Neurological Deficits, Cherylle R. Reed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Reliance on sleep aids in neurological patient population can lead to negative side effects and compromise patient safety. The purpose of this doctoral nursing project was to determine if the implementation of McDonnell and Newcomb’s aromatherapy process will reduce the incidence of sleep-promoting medication administration as compared to the current practice in neurological deficit patients over 4 weeks. A quantitative, quasi-experimental design evaluated effects on sleep quality and pharmacological sleep aids by using McDonnell and Newcomb’s aromatherapy combination of lavender, bergamot, and ylang ylang essential oils placed on a cotton ball at the patient’s bedside each night. The sample included …

Possibilities Of Digitizing And Applying Artificial Intelligence To National Occupational Classification (Noc-2025) In Uzbekistan, Shohrux Nurali O‘G‘Li Narzullayev

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This article examines the process of digitizing National Occupational Classification (NOC-2025) in Uzbekistan, developed on the basis of the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08), and the possibilities of applying artificial intelligence technologies to it. Although this classification exists today in a national form, and its digitization and the introduction of artificial intelligence elements to it based on modern technologies remain a pressing issue. In order to digitize the classification, international systems such as the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08, ILO), European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations (ESCO), Occupational Information Network (O*NET, USA) and National Occupational Classification (NOC, Canada) …

Depression Polygenicity And Disease Activity And Disability Worsening In Multiple Sclerosis, Ali Manouchehrinia, Kathryn C Fitzgerald, Amber Salter, Ruth Ann Marrie, Lars Alfredsson, Charles N Bernstein, James M Bolton, Gary Cutter, John D Fisk, Lesley A Graff, Carol A Hitchon, Jan Hillert, Ingrid Kockum, Yi Lu, Fred D Lublin, Kyla Mckay, Tomas Olsson, Scott Patten, Amit Patki, Hayley Riel, Klementy Shchetynsky, Pernilla Stridh, Hemant K Tiwari, Jerry S Wolinsky, Kaarina Kowalec

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: A better understanding of factors associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) disease activity and disability is needed. Given the strong link between comorbid depression and MS disease activity and disability, we aimed to determine whether the depression genetic burden, as modelled using its polygenic score, is associated with MS disease activity and disability worsening.

Methods: In this cohort study, we used samples from neurologist-defined adult people with MS (PwMS) followed in clinical care or during a clinical trial from existing cohorts: Canada, the United States (US), and Sweden with extensive longitudinal phenotypes. We computed the depression polygenic score (PGS) and …

Reading The Word And The World: Overstanding Literacy In Aboriginal And Chinese Classrooms, Gui Ying Annie Yang-Heim

Faculty Publications - College of Education

This qualitative comparative case study examines how culturally grounded philosophies of education shape the teaching and learning of reading in two cross-cultural contexts—an Aboriginal Australian classroom and urban Chinese elementary schools. Drawing on interpretive and reflexive methodologies, it investigates how Aboriginal and Confucian epistemologies influence literacy practices and how these practices align with or resist dominant, decontextualized models of reading instruction. Data sources include classroom observations, reading assessments, teacher interviews, and researcher reflections. Conceptually framed by Gadamer’s hermeneutics, Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital, Habermas’s typology of knowledge, and the Caribbean concept of overstanding, this research finds that Aboriginal literacy is …

The Root Cause Of Perceived Appraisal Politics Using Evidence From The South Korean Public Sector, Jinwoong Yoo, Saeyeon Roh, Mohamed Haddoud, Smita Tripathi

Plymouth Business School

The purpose of this study is to investigate the root causes of Perceived Appraisal Politics (PAP) within the public sector in South Korea. Scholars in the field of Human Resource Management (HRM) have identified the determinants of PAP in an effort to mitigate it. However, the complex interactions among those determinants and root causes have been overlooked. Therefore, we adopt a novel methodology in this study that combines Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) and fuzzy-Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (f-DEMATEL). The findings indicate that the root causes of PAP include the presence of cliques, ambiguity of appraisal policies and goal ambiguity …

Student Engagement In Early Education Classrooms: A Mixed Methods Study Examining Student And Teacher Perspectives, Jill Ann Derosa

Theses & Dissertations

Student disengagement is a persistent issue in U.S. public schools and has been linked to negative outcomes for students. When students are engaged in learning, they are more likely to achieve academic success and socioemotional well-being in school. This study evaluated multiple perspectives on student engagement to gain a deeper understanding of how students and teachers in one school are making sense of engagement in their classrooms. Using a mixed-methods approach, I employed student surveys and conducted focus groups with both students and teachers to gather data on participants’ perceptions of student engagement. The findings from this study highlight that …

The Epidemiology Of Us Upper Extremity Amputations: An Analysis Of The Global Burden Of Disease Database (1990-2019)., Ambrose Loc T Ngo, Cameron J Sabet, Gabrielle Dykhouse, Ayah Ibrahim, Taylor J Manes, Arsalaan Sayyed, Shaheryar Asad, Benjamin C Taylor

Surgery Articles

Background Upper extremity amputations (UEAs) are medically, psychologically, and functionally devastating. This study aimed to evaluate region- and sex-specific differences in unilateral and bilateral upper extremity amputations in the United States (US) from 1990 to 2019. Methods The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database was used to analyze years lived with disability (YLDs), prevalence, and incidence rates per 100,000 people for upper extremity amputations in the US from 1990 to 2019. Data were stratified into four US Census Bureau-defined regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Differences between regions and sexes were assessed, with statistical significance defined as p< 0.05. Results Between 1990 and 2019, unilateral upper extremity amputations in the US showed a 34.51% decrease in YLDs, 34.34% in prevalence, and 37.38% in incidence. Bilateral amputations decreased by 51.32%, 48.94%, and 56.80%, respectively. Men consistently had higher YLDs, prevalence, and incidence rates for unilateral amputations (p< 0.001). Regionally, the Northeast had the highest mean YLDs, prevalence, and incidence, while the South had the lowest. Men also experienced significantly higher rates of both unilateral and bilateral amputations across all regions compared to women (p< 0.05). Conclusions From 1990 to 2019, the US experienced declines in YLDs, prevalence, and incidence of upper extremity amputations. Men had higher rates than women across all regions. The Northeast exhibited the highest rates, while the South had the lowest. These findings underscore notable gender and regional disparities in upper extremity amputation trends.

Critical Young Consumers: What Types Of Porn Do Teens Watch, And Why?, Giselle Woodley, Marc Zen, Harrison W. See, Lelia Green

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Pornography use by teens is of growing concern to parents and communities. There is, however, often little differentiation made between the types of contents being consumed or exploration of the types of pornography teens are watching and why. This paper interrogates data collected from 49 qualitative interviews, including 19 follow-up interviews and 4× focus groups with teens. This paper explores teens’ perspectives on the types of pornography accessed by themselves and their peers, and popular categories of pornography more widely. Teens appear to view various types and genres of pornography, as do adults. Some teens prefer ‘ethical’ sources of porn, …

Educate, Elevate, Empower: Shaping Future-Ready Teachers For Superdiverse Classrooms, Abdelhamid Helmy Safa

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper critically examines the transformative potential of integrating Community Engagement (CE) and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (CRP) within Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programs globally. It highlights the significance of community-based learning and the Funds of Knowledge (FoK) framework in preparing educators to address the complexities of superdiverse classrooms. Through a systematic review, the study identifies effective practices and systemic barriers in ITE, advocating for a paradigm shift that aligns teacher preparation with the cultural realities of students. The proposed model synthesizes CRP, CE, and FoK to cultivate critical consciousness and adaptive expertise, essential for fostering inclusive learning environments. By providing …

Assessing Health Behaviors As Predictors Of Psychological Resilience And Bmi In A National And Small Military College Sample, Kylie Blodgett, Rachele Pojednic

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Highlights: What are the main findings? First-year students at a military college engage in more vigorous physical activity and strength training compared to a representative national sample. In the national sample, higher levels of physical activity, strength training, and better sleep are associated with greater psychological resilience and healthier BMI values and these associations were not observed in the military college students. What are the implication of the main findings? Promoting physical activity and adequate sleep may enhance resilience and support healthy body weight in civilian college populations. Military training may overshadow the influence of individual health behaviors on resilience …

Pro- And Anti-Climate Activism: The Ideological Correlates Of Intentions To Engage In Collective Action For - And Against - Environmental Protections, Samantha K. Stanley, Danny Osborne, Zoe Leviston, Iain Walker

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Although the correlates of climate activism are well-known, few studies examine why some protest against protecting the environment. We address this oversight by conducting a national survey that investigated the ideological correlates of intentions to engage in pro- and anti-climate activism. We divided participants into two groups based on whether they were in support of (n = 4530) or against (n = 714) Australia acting to reduce its contribution to climate change. These groups then completed pro- and anti-climate activism intention scales, respectively. We disentangled facets of ideological attitudes to examine the extent that social dominance orientation and the dimensions …

Applied Social And Positive Psychology (Asapp), Whitney L. Heppner Phd

Academic Affairs

The completed and ongoing work is accomplishing/has accomplished 4 specific aims that were identified prior to the project: 1) Developed translational, workforce skills for students. Students enhanced communication skills (professional communication directly with community partners; presenting orally); collaboration skills (projects are completed in teams); and analytical inquiry skills (understanding and thinking critically about scientific research; translating science to non-scientists) through their interactions with community partners and their lessons to community audience. 2.1)Addressed community partner needs for social-emotional/mental health education. Meetings with community partners each semester identify important topics, and GC student topics are tailored to these conversations. 2.2) Taught valuable …

Black And Latine Youth Thinking About Punitive And Restorative Approaches In Relation To Race/Ethnicity, Gabriel M. Velez, Amelia Kasper

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Restorative practices (RPs) are a growing approach to mitigate racial/ethnic disparities in school disciplinary systems. This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of Black and/or Latine students, examining how they perceive and interpret disciplinary approaches in their schools. Using focus groups across seven high schools (N = 93 participants), we explored how students made meaning of the potential of RP. Overall, participants expressed nuanced opinions regarding the purposes and effectiveness of both punitive and restorative approaches. Specifically, participants demonstrated mixed thinking about punitive and restorative responses, connected the efficacy of responses to context, and stressed the importance of incorporating …

Do Sports Develop Leadership? The Impact Of College Varsity Sports On Leadership Capacity And Self-Efficacy, Benjamin Correia-Harker, Lindsey M. Clark, Jacob J. Capin

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction: Effective leadership in sports is associated with better team functioning, physical and psychosocial wellbeing, and reduced incidence of severe injuries. In spite of widespread anecdotal support, few studies have empirically evaluated leadership development in athletes. The purpose of this study was to investigate socially responsible leadership capacity and self-efficacy in college varsity athletes and determine the impact of competitive sports participation on leadership capacity and self-efficacy. We hypothesized that college varsity athletes would (1) exhibit greater leadership capacity and self-efficacy than nonathletes and (2) demonstrate greater growth in leadership capacity and self-efficacy than nonathletes.

Methods: The Multi-Institutional Study of …

Exploring The Impact Of Faculty–Student Interactions Outside The Classroom On The Sense Of Belonging, Engagement, Self-Confidence, And Retention Among Undergraduates In Uae Federal Universities, Mona Malalla Alhammadi

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the ability of Faculty-Student Interaction (FSI) in influencing students' social and academic outcomes and success. In particular, this study sought to investigate the impact of the informal interactions between faculty members and their students outside the classroom on four student outcomes: Sense of Belonging (SB), Engagement (EG), Self-confidence (SC), and Retention (RT). The participants were 570 undergraduate students who were at their first- and second-year of study from three different UAE federal higher education institutions. The study employed quantitative research design while utilizing an online survey as the main data collection instrument. …

How Do Emirati University Students Develop Their Academic Biliteracy? A Mixed-Method Study, Eman Kamel Rababa

Dissertations

Framed by Hornberger’s continua of biliteracy model, this study investigated the developmental dynamics of academic biliteracy among Emirati university students. The research employed a sequential mixed-methods design, conducted across three public universities in the UAE. In the initial qualitative phase, interview data were collected from 30 students. Informed by these findings and the extant literature, a quantitative survey was then developed and administered to a sample of 299 students from various disciplines. The qualitative data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, while the quantitative data were examined using advanced statistical analyses, including structural equation modeling. Three primary themes emerged from …

Exploring Family-Friendly Policies In The Uae, Mariam Sultan Al Kaabi

Theses

Background: Family-friendly policies (FFPs) have become a critical element in global debates surrounding work–family balance (WFB), organizational performance, and gender equity. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), rapid legal reforms, including Federal Decree–Law No. 33 of 2021, the introduction of paid parental leave, expanded maternity protections, and increased recognition of flexible and remote work, reflect a national commitment to strengthening family well-being.Yet, despite these advancements, many working parents continue to experience tensions between regulatory intentions and workplace realities.

Purpose: This study examines the lived experiences of fourteen working parents in the UAE to understand how current FFPs and workplace arrangements …

Enhanced Air Hockey Robot Performance Through Adaptive Control Algorithim Using Ai-Based Hierarechal Decicion Archeticture, Ayham Majed Salim

Theses

This thesis presents the development of an intelligent air hockey robot that combines precise mechanical design, computer vision, and adaptive control within an AI-based hierarchical decision architecture. The system integrates synchronized stepper motors, high-speed image processing, and a real-time decision framework to achieve competitive gameplay performance. The robot detects the puck using adaptive HSV color segmentation, supported by dynamic calibration that maintains accuracy under different lighting conditions. A two-stage trajectory prediction model, based on exponential decay velocity estimation, enables anticipation of puck motion and improves response time during fast gameplay.

At the decision level, a fuzzy-logic supervisor governs the robot’s …

Understanding Behavioral Patterns: A Case Study Of Emirati Ex-Offenders In United Arab Emirates, Salim Ali Al Naqbi

Theses

Research on desistance has helped criminologists to better understand how people change their criminal identity and exercise personal choice. Yet in the UAE, these ideas has not often been applied to prisoners serving one or multiple offenses, even though incarceration and reoffending remain important social concerns. Because of this, desistance theory has not been fully used to study how rehabilitation is managed in UAE prisons, which means that some useful lessons may be missed. This study begins to close that gap by looking at the personal stories of 15 Emirati participants that were formerly incarcerated by adapting a qualitative and …

Corporeal Property And The Limits Of Nagpra, M. Alexander Pearl

Fordham Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Native American Graves Protection And Repatriation Act As A Model Of Cultural Sovereignty For Protecting Indigenous Sacred Site, Michalyn Steele

Fordham Law Review

No abstract provided.

How Do Community Assets Support Health In A Rural Community? An Ethnographic Case Study, Jennie Hayes, Liz Edwards-Smith, Richard Byng, Kerryn Husk, Katrina Wyatt

Peninsula Medical School

Community assets (including voluntary, community, social enterprise and grassroots initiatives) have the potential to help address health inequalities. There is a growing understanding of the importance of putting communities at the heart of public health to improve population health. Understanding the mechanisms by which grassroots activities support health and wellbeing is important for making commissioning decisions, for community confidence and for the purposes of evaluation. This study takes an ethnographic case study approach to explore one rural community in the south-west of England. We observed activities and interactions, had informal conversations with residents and community leaders and conducted focus groups. …

Metabolic Flexibility As A Candidate Mechanism For The Development Of Postoperative Morbidity, Pietro Arina, John Whittle, Maciej R Kaczorek, Davide Ferrari, Nicholas Tetlow, Amy Dewar, Robert Stephens, Daniel Martin, S Ramani Moonesinghe, Evangelos B Mazomenos, Mervyn Singer

Peninsula Medical School

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the role of metabolic flexibility in determining perioperative outcomes. Metabolic flexibility, a key feature of metabolic health, is the ability to efficiently switch between different fuel sources (predominantly carbohydrates and fats) depending on energy demands and availability. Given the rapidly changing physiological conditions in the perioperative period, we hypothesized that good metabolic adaptability could mitigate postoperative complications. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study utilizing a prospectively collected, single-center preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) database of patients undergoing a range of major surgeries between 2012 and 2022. On day 3, patients were categorized into 3 groups …