Digital Commons Network^™

On The Significance Of Eco-Phenomenology For Theories Of Sustainability, Kira Meyer

Contemporary Aesthetics (Journal Archive)

The Ecosystem Service Approach lays down the several ways in which nature contributes to the welfare of human beings. One important category of this approach is the cultural services that nature offers, which conform to the eudaimonic values in environmental ethics. The cultural services of nature are an important reason in choosing a concept of strong sustainability, as developed by Konrad Ott and Ralf Döring; eco-phenomenology is a method to immerse into these cultural-eudaimonic values and articulate them in nuanced ways. Our overall argument will substantiate the uncommon claim that eco-phenomenology is of focal significance to theories of sustainability.

Imaginaries, Scenarios, And Materialities: The Arts As Part Of Ecology, Peter J. Schneemann

Contemporary Aesthetics (Journal Archive)

This contribution seeks to identify some of the methodological implications and challenges for art history as a discipline when confronted with the ecological imperative. There are clear societal expectations to ecological questions, approaches, and attitudes and a new rhetoric by artists and also scientists that anticipates the necessity of an ethical stand. The shift towards notions like sustainability was so fast and so radical, I argue, that we ought to take time to step back and reflect on its implications. I am especially interested in the intersection between the ethical dimension we now apply to artistic production (as a …

Back To Intermittence, Or Rediscovering Web-Materiality: An Artistic Quest For A Sustainable Internet Aesthetics, Diego Mantoan

Contemporary Aesthetics (Journal Archive)

Through the digital and public artwork, Solar Protocol (2020-ongoing), artists and engineers Tega Brain, Alex Nathanson, and Benedetta Piantella kickstarted a solar-powered server network that hosts a web page demonstrating how intermittent energy levels affect its very aesthetics and usability. This small-scale participatory experiment stimulates a wider reflection on the interconnection between economic, environmental, behavioral, and aesthetic features that shape the way the internet is produced and consumed in today’s society. Far from being a mere matter of greening the internet’s power supply, rather the artwork turns a spotlight on the implicit attitudes of web producers and consumers as developed …

An Aesthetics Of Minimal Resources: Affective Ecologies At The Encounter With Environmental Ethics In Alicia Barney’S Artistic Practice, Vanessa Badagliacca

Contemporary Aesthetics (Journal Archive)

The aim of this article is to present the early works created between 1975 and 1982 by Alicia Barney, a pioneer of environmental art in Colombia. The purpose is to highlight her ability to lead us Toward a Sustainable Attitude, the title of a conference held at the University of Venice (October 6-8, 2022), and also to claim how relevant these works remain in the current climate crisis within and beyond contemporary aesthetics debates. Taking on this approach, it will emerge that despite the attempt of the artist in some of her pieces to adopt a detached, scientific attitude …

Embracing Social-Emotional Learning And Nurturing Character: A Systematic Review Of Intersectional-Eq Strategies For Educational Leaders, Leticia G. Candelaria-Archuleta

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

The COVID-19 pandemic expanded education beyond traditional academics, highlighting the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) and character education (CE) for positive youth outcomes. This study examined the role of educational leadership in implementing SEL and CE in schools through a term coined Intersectional-EQ. This study centered on a cutting-edge approach using grey literature, specifically doctoral dissertations, to capture current trends in unprecedented times. A systematic review through Covidence, guided by PRISMA and PICO frameworks, was conducted. Findings highlight the impact of leadership on SEL and CE through an intersectional lens. Future work is aimed to support holistic student growth by …

Optical Responses Of Hybrid Electromagnetic Nanostructures, Dominic Bosomtwi

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

Fano resonances result from the interference between a broad background and a narrow state, producing asymmetric scattering profiles. Under specific conditions, destructive interference collapses the Fano resonance width, leading to bound states in the continuum (BICs) that localize light within a nanostructure while maintaining an infinitely high-quality factor (Q-factor).

This dissertation explores the design of nanostructures with multilayer hybrid plasmonic-dielectric metasurfaces using full-wave numerical simulations, facilitating multiple Fano resonances and BICs. By adjusting nanoantenna dimensions, multiple modes are excited at plasmonic-dielectric interfaces, leading to strong interactions and hybridization of energy levels, manifested as Rabi splitting.

These findings enable advancements in …

Transnational(Izing) African Communication: A Post-/Decolonial Approach To Nollywood And Globalization, Tomide Oloruntobi

Communication ETDs

In this dissertation, I examine culture and communication in transnational Nigeria, focusing on Nollywood and its industrial politics. Through a critical ethnographic examination of Nollywood’s reception among global and transnational audiences, I critique the evolving patterns of difference, power, and politics informing production, distribution, consumption, and performance/communication of otherness. With four composite dimensions of decoloniality: structural, epistemic, personal, and relational as theoretical foundation, I analyzed observations and interviews with 21 transnational Nigerians, online focus group discussions, user reviews, movies/series, and blogposts. I discuss the emergent themes of coloniality of space, mobility, and culture; re-making of racial otherness and hetero-patriarchy/normativity; cultural …

Livian Magnolia Washington-Belcher

African American Funeral Programs

No abstract provided.

Set-Based Tests For Genetic Association Studies With Interval-Censored Competing Risks Outcomes, Zhichao Xu, Jaihee Choi, Ryan Sun

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Over the past decade, massive genetic compendiums such as the UK Biobank have gathered extensive genetic and phenotypic data that hold the potential to provide unparalleled insight into the genetic etiologies of various complex diseases. However, much of the disease information is collected as time-to-event outcomes in interval-censored form, and conventional tools for genetic association analysis are often not available for this type of data. For example, set-based inference for common and rare variants analysis is a fundamental investigation in germline genetics studies, but there is a lack of approaches that can perform set-based testing when the interval-censored outcome of …

Adapting An Intervention To Address Barriers To Pain Management In Hospice: Formative Research To Inform Empower-D For Dementia Caregivers, Karla T Washington, Morgan L Van Vleck, Todd D Becker, George Demiris, Debra Parker Oliver, Paul E Tatum, Jacquelyn J Benson, John G Cagle

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Nearly half of more than 1.7 million older Americans who receive hospice care each year have a primary or comorbid diagnosis of dementia. Pain is often undertreated in this patient population owing to myriad factors, including unmet informational needs among family caregivers.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to inform the adaptation of a pain education intervention for hospice family caregivers to the context of dementia by eliciting feedback on the educational content covered in adapted intervention materials.

DESIGN: We conducted a multimethod, formative research study to inform the adaptation of an existing, evidence-based intervention.

SETTING/SUBJECTS: The study included a purposively recruited …

Can Vocabulary And Grammar Hold The Doorway For College Reading Success? The Case Of Arabic Learners Of English, Zainab A. Allaith

International Journal for Research in Education

Reading is an important skill for college success. This study investigated cognitive predictors of English reading comprehension success among college students whose first language is Arabic. Knowledge of vocabulary/grammar emerged as the strongest predictor of reading success, followed by silent reading fluency, and then decoding skill. However, metacognitive awareness of reading strategies did not statistically significantly contribute to the model. Findings suggest that Arabic speakers draw on their vocabulary and grammar knowledge when tackling an English reading comprehension task, skills that are language specific to L2. Implications include the recommendation for placing the development of college students’ language reservoir at …

Do We Meet Their Needs? Honors Students’ Perspectives And Experiences Of Honors Programs, Saad M. Alamer

International Journal for Research in Education

This qualitative study investigates university students’ perceptions and experiences in the honors program at King Saud University (KSU). A total of twenty gifted university students were interviewed. The findings indicate that the honors program was perceived to be mediocre in content, and students found it to lack challenge and appeal. The participants experienced a lack of engagement with the program at the university compared to the pre-university programs they had experienced in their school years. Students reaffirmed that they benefited more from interactions with others in the program than from their interactions with staff and members of other programs. This …

The Relative Contribution Of Emotional Support Sources In Predicting The Academic Motivation Among Female University Students, Mustafa Qaseem Heilat, Seif Jamal Alzubi

International Journal for Research in Education

The purpose of the current study is to reveal the relative contribution of Emotional support sources in predicting the academic motivation (both intrinsic and extrinsic) among female students at Princess Alia University College in Jordan. Furthermore. In addition, it aims to identify the differences, if any, in the academic motivation considering academic achievement. To accomplish these objectives, the researchers utilized the Academic Motivation Scale developed by Lepper, et al. (2005) and the Emotional Support Sources Scale developed by Uchida, et al. (2008) after confirming their psychometric properties. A stratified random sample was used in this study, which included 296 female …

The Degree Of The 21st-Century Skills In The Educational Competencies Of Curricula For The Basic Education Stage In The Gcc, Nouf Ali Al Moray

International Journal for Research in Education

The study aimed to identify the degree of the skills of the 21st-century in the competencies of educational curricula in GCC. The study adopted the descriptive analytical approach (content analysis) and concluded a list of (8) basic skills was prepared, and (56) sub-skills branched out from it. (7.3) creativity and problem-solving a high (3.5), language mastery a medium (3.3), communication and teamwork a medium (2.8), critical thinking a low (2.4), leadership and initiative a low (2.2), technological culture low (2), leadership and decision-making very low (1.3), and the results of the analysis showed close proportions in the competencies …

The Level Of Awareness Of Primary School Teachers About Fluency Skill And Teaching Strategies, Ghaida Nasser Alsharekh, Abdullah Ahmed Alghamdi

International Journal for Research in Education

The current study aimed to reveal the level of primary school teachers' awareness of the skill of reading fluently and the strategies for teaching it, and to reveal the impact of the study variables (teacher's gender, specialization, degree, number of years of experience), and accordingly. A questionnaire consisting of twenty-three statements was designed to measure the level of awareness of stage teachers. Elementary reading skills and teaching strategies: (awareness of reading fluently and its elements, strategies for teaching reading fluently). The researchers applied the tool to 340 primary teachers. The results of the study showed that the level of primary …

Attitude Towards Online Psychological Experiments For College Of Education Undergraduates In Omani And Kuwaiti Contexts In The Light Of Gender, Academic Major, And Gpa, Mustafa Ali Khalaf

International Journal for Research in Education

The present research paper aimed at investigating the differences in attitude towards online psychological experiments across gender (males–females) and culture (Oman – Kuwait), detecting the correlation relationship between attitude and grade point average (GPA). Additionally, it explores the differences in attitudes towards online psychological experiments attributed to gender, academic major, and GPA. The sample consisted of 328 participants (165 Omani, 163 Kuwaiti; 19 % males, 81% females). Scale of attitude towards online psychological experiments was used to collect data. Results indicated significant positive association between GPA and attitude towards online psychological experiments while no significant effect for gender, major or …

Create An Educational Programme Based On The Entrance Of Steam And Assess Its Effectiveness In Improving Programming Skills And Computing Thinking, Izdihar Y. Alhujailan, Ahmad M. Alhussein

International Journal for Research in Education

The aim of the study is to create an educational program based on "STEAM” and assess its effectiveness to improve programming skills and computing thinking in middle female school. The research adopted a semi-experimental design, with two groups, control and experimental, and several tools have been created for that research:

- A test to assess the cognitive aspect of programming skills.

- A note card to assess the performance aspect of programming skills.

- A scale to assess computer thinking skills.

The study sample consisted of forty-six female students, and the study found that:

1. There are statistically significant variations between …

The Effect Of Using Interactive Digital Story On Academic Achievement And Motivation Towards Learning Digital Skills, Emad Jamal Jabali, Riyadh Alhassan

International Journal for Research in Education

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of using interactive digital story on academic achievement and motivation in the digital skills course among first-level middle school students. The research population consisted of the first-level middle school students in the Sabia province in the second semester of 2022. A quasi-experimental approach was adopted with a sample size of 50 students from Al-Khalidiya School in Sabia; the control group consisted of 25 students who studied through the textbook, while the experimental group studied via interactive digital stories with the same sample size. Several interactive digital stories were designed as …

Psychological And Social Challenges Facing Gifted Students: Parents' Perspective, Fahad Suliman Alfaiz

International Journal for Research in Education

The study identified the most common psychological and social challenges characteristics among gifted students based on parents' perspective. In addition, the study examined the differences on the psychological and social challenges characteristics among gifted students based on education types (public and private schools). The sample consisted of 143 parents whose children were classified as gifted students based on Mawhiba Multiple Cognitive Aptitude Test at primary and secondary school levels. The researcher used t-test and ANOVA to analyze the data. The most prevalent psychological and social challenges among gifted students were as follows: high expectations from parents and teachers, increased …

The Perceptions Of Teachers Of Students With Autism Regarding Using Applied Behavior Analysis (Aba) To Improve Social Skills In Saudi Arabia, Salman Almughyiri

International Journal for Research in Education

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions and experiences of teachers of autistic students in Riyadh and Jeddah regarding the use of applied behavior analysis (ABA) to improve social skills. Methodology: I used a qualitative method to analyze phenomena under inquiry from three different data points: surveys (n=51), interviews (n=6), and phenomenologically (n=2). Results: The findings indicated that some of the main factors affecting how teachers view and utilize evidence-based practice (EBP) in their scope of practice are refresher training, skills, knowledge, peer support, and institutional policies. Discussion and conclusion were discussed.

Keywords …

Biomechanical Analysis Of Judokas`Throwing Techniques: Focus On The Preparation Phase, Kazuto Hamaguchi, Takumi Furukawa, Sora Takeuchi, Yoshiki Sasakawa, Tatsuya Deguchi

ISBS Proceedings Archive

The purpose of this study was to compare the Judo throwing technique "uchimata" (inner thigh throw) between high and low skilled judoka during the preparation phase. Fourteen male judokas participated in this research. Kinematic data were collected using three-dimensional motion capture systems. During the analysis of the thrower's (tori's) angular velocity and the receiver's (uke's) angular momentum in the preparation phase, it was observed that high skilled judoka exhibited a strong positive correlation between the peak angular velocity of tori's leg and the peak angular momentum of the uke. Additionally, the peak value of the tori's centre of mass (COM) …

Effects Of Running Shoe Stack Height On Movement Variability - A Shared Biomechanical And Motor Control Perspective, Bernd J. Stetter, Cagla Fadillioglu, Stefan Sell, Thorsten Stein

ISBS Proceedings Archive

Understanding how shoe features affect motor control processes is crucial for designing targeted running shoes. The purpose of this study was to investigate adaptations of coupled movement components, i.e. kinematic synergies (kSYNs), when running with different shoe stack heights (19 mm, 35 mm, and 50 mm). The applied analysis combined a principal component analysis, support vector machine classifiers, and stride-to-stride variability (SSV) calculations. The results showed classification rates ranging from 82.9% to 94.4% across different stack heights. Notably, only the 50 mm stack height demonstrated increased SSV for the kSYNs that highly contribute to separating the two stack heights when …

How Does The Neuromuscular System Utilize Sensory Feedback For The Control Of Skilled Movements In Sport? A Perspective, Peter Federolf

ISBS Proceedings Archive

This perspective article explores concepts for how sensory information is utilized by the neuromuscular system for the correction of ongoing movements within the sports domain, highlighting its significance for movement stability, accuracy, precision, injury prevention, and performance enhancement. This paper aims to introduce a simplified model for feedback control and discusses implications of this model and approaches for experimental corroboration.

Predicting Running Movements From Motor Control Principles, Anne D. Koelewijn, Marlies Nitschke, Chuyi Wang, Eva Dorschky

ISBS Proceedings Archive

We aim to predict running movements from motor control principles. Specifically, the central nervous system minimizes an objective related to energy efficiency when planning movements. We replicate this minimization in optimal control problems to create running simulations that predict running movements in new situations. Here, we will introduce how we create predictive simulations using optimal control, and we show how we used these to gain insight into the effect of running shoe midsole properties on running movements. We show that we can successfully predict the change in metabolic cost between different shoe conditions, but that our outcomes are limited when …

Synergistic Control Of Muscle Activity During Challenging Locomotor Tasks, Alessandro Santuz

ISBS Proceedings Archive

This talk will explore the neuromotor control of challenging locomotor tasks using the concept of muscle synergies: modular sets of activation patterns that are common to functionally similar muscle groups and may exist to simplify movement control. I will argue that the structure of these synergies is largely conserved across different walking and running speeds, as well as in response to internal (e.g. aging) or external (e.g. uneven terrain) perturbations. The nervous system finely tunes the linear and nonlinear time characteristics of muscle synergies to cope with disturbances, rather than adjusting the relative muscle contributions, regardless of the nature of …

Kinematic Sequencing Of The Short Game Swing In Male Collegiate Golfers, Mark S. Walsh, Tess Mcguire, Caitlyn Piccard, Young-Hoo Kwon, Dean L. Smith

ISBS Proceedings Archive

Approach shots are crucial to the success of elite golfers. The primary purpose of this study was to compare kinematics of golf shots at four target distances (30, 50, and 70 yards, and full swing) in collegiate, male golfers. Participants were instructed to hit five successful shots at each target distance. A motion capture system recorded kinematic and temporal parameters of the golfers and a golf simulator collected ball carry distance of each shot. Distance had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect on swing phase timing, angular velocities, and motion sequencing. Movement sequencing within the short game displayed irregular …

Intra-Individual Variation In The Jump Smash For 19 Malaysian Elite Badminton Players, Yuvaraj Ramasamy, Mark King, Harley Towler

ISBS Proceedings Archive

The badminton jump smash is a key skill that is crucial for winning rallies in badminton, but players can have substantial variations in smash performance. In this study the intra-individual variation in the badminton jump smash was investigated. Twenty-five jump smashes were recorded using a 3D motion capture system for 19 elite badminton players with the three fastest and three slowest jump smashes per participant selected, analysed and categorised into FAST and SLOW groups (95.0 ± 3.6 m×s^-1 and 85.8 ± 5.8m×s^-1). Post impact shuttlecock speed, racket head speed at contact and longitudinal impact location were found …

Comparison Of Wrist Angles Between Two Established Biomechanical Models, Anna Pennekamp, Mirjam Thielen, Julia Glaser, Mara Berger, Ursula Trinler

ISBS Proceedings Archive

The purpose of this study was to identify differences between two established methods for wrist angle calculation (U.L.E.M.A. by Jaspers et al. & model by Metcalf et al.) during range of motion (ROM) movement tasks. Reflective markers, representing both hand models, were placed on anatomical landmarks of 10 healthy participants. Sagittal plane ROM of the wrist was analysed during open and closed hand wrist flexion/extension. Differences in ROM of the wrist flexion/extension were found for both tasks over the entire movement cycle (closed hand=12.4° (±10.1), open hand=10.3° (÷7.0°)). In particular, differences in extension are noticeable during wrist movement with open …

Biomechanical Analysis Of The Burpee Push-Up Using Predicted Ground Reaction Forces, Andrea Di Pietro, Francesca Di Puccio

ISBS Proceedings Archive

The Burpee is a dynamic full-body workout integrating strength, cardiovascular, and plyometric elements. Despite its widespread use, scientific literature on its biomechanics and physiological effects is limited. The present study aimed to comprehensively define the Burpee exercise and its biomechanics, focusing on the joint contributions and reaction forces. For this purpose, an original approach to predict ground reaction forces at feet and hands was exploited, combined with motion capture data. Results highlighted the knees as the most affected joints, especially during landing reaching 3.5 body weight. In conclusion, this work established the groundwork for future studies aiming to evaluate proper …

Musculoskeletal Analysis Of Two Basic Latin American Steps, Antonia Centrone, Francesca Di Puccio

ISBS Proceedings Archive

This study aimed to quantitatively define two basic Latin American steps (Basic Step and Lateral Step) through a biomechanical approach, providing the main events during each step cycle and the key kinematic features related to these movements. The participant was an instructor of the Italian Federation Sports Dance, who performed the movements in the biomechanics laboratory within the “Sport and Anatomy” center, equipped with an 8-camera Vicon IR system and two force plates. The kinematic variables were computed using two OpenSim models: the Rajagopal and the Thoraco-lumbar models. The major differences between the models were observed in the pelvic tilt, …