Digital Commons Network^™

Cultural Determinism, Leadership Identity, And Psychological Outcomes Among Emirati Women School Principals: A Convergent Mixed Methods Study, Saeed Mobarak Alkaabi

All Works

Background/problem: Despite state-led empowerment reforms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Emirati women school principals experience tension between leadership roles and entrenched cultural expectations. Norms related to family honor, modesty, male guardianship, and relational harmony, continue to shape leadership identity formation, agency, and psychological outcomes, influencing leadership legitimacy and professional identity. Objective/purpose: This study examines how cultural determinism influences leadership identity, agency, and psychological well-being among Emirati women school leaders on the East Coast of the UAE. Design and Methodology: A convergent parallel mixed methods design was implemented. Correlation and regression analysis were used to test the influence of cultural …

Beyond Behavior: Understanding Trauma As A Pathway To Transform Classroom Discipline, Jennifer J. Snead

Masters Projects

Many students entering early childhood and elementary classrooms have experienced trauma that impacts their ability to learn, regulate emotions, and fully participate in school. Research shows that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can affect brain development, particularly in areas related to attention, memory, and self-regulation—skills essential for success in the classroom. Even though trauma-related behaviors are becoming more common, many educators report feeling underprepared to recognize and respond to these behaviors due to limited training in trauma-informed practices. As a result, student behavior is often misunderstood as defiance, which can lead to discipline practices that do not address the root cause. …

Ho Chi Minh’S Thoughts On Gender Equality In The Political Sphere In Vietnam And Strategic Implications For Indonesia, Tri Minh Nguyen

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This paper provides an exhaustive examination of the theoretical foundations of Ho Chi Minh’s thought regarding gender equality and its institutionalization within the political fabric of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Focusing on the contemporary period (2021–2026), the analysis evaluates the efficacy of the Vietnamese model of State Feminism in achieving descriptive and substantive representation for women in legislative and executive bodies. Furthermore, the paper conducts a comparative analysis with the Republic of Indonesia, particularly following its 2024 general elections, to identify structural, cultural, and legal divergences. By synthesizing data from government reports, international indices, and academic literature, this study …

Trends Towards Political Communication Strategy On Social Media: A Bibliometrics Analysis, Annisa Atha Hanifah, La Mani, Zidane Ahmad Busthomi, Giovanni Sunrise, Matthew A. Kristanto, Indra Prawira

Jurnal Wacana Politik

Social media has become the center of digital political communication, enabling politicians to convey messages, form narratives, and mobilize public support directly and interactively. Social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok serve not only as campaign tools but also as deliberative spaces where political discourse is formed and debated. This study uses a bibliometric approach to analyze global trends in research on political communication on social media during the period 2020-2024. Data were collected in October 2025 from Scopus database, comprising 608 documents from 253 publication sources and author affiliations in 24 countries. The search was conducted using …

Simplification Of Technical Language In Tagesschau News For B1-Level German Vocabulary Learning, Syaula Qonit Helga, Dewi Kartika Ardiyani

Journal of Innovation and Teacher Professionalism

This study aims to identify and categorize the types of Fachsprache (specialized language) found in simplified Tagesschau news and to explore their potential use for B1-level German vocabulary learning. The study employs a qualitative descriptive approach using content analysis. Data were collected from news videos available on the Tagesschau YouTube channel and analyzed according to three categories: (1) CEFR level, (2) subject area, and (3) usage context. The data were processed through data reduction techniques to simplify Fachsprache terms at higher CEFR levels, followed by data display and interpretation to examine the identification results, and finally, conclusion drawing. The findings …

Clientelism And The Quality Of Democracy: A Comparative Analysis Of Rule Of Law And Public Goods Provision In Indonesia And Malaysia, Ahmad Mikail, Muhammad Arief Virgy, Mustabsyirotul Ummah Mustofa

Jurnal Wacana Politik

Clientelism remains common in Southeast Asian politics even though electoral democracy has expanded. This study examines how different forms of clientelism influence democratic quality, focusing on the rule of law and public goods provision in Indonesia and Malaysia. Building on the theories of clientelism, understood as the exchange of material benefits for political support. Such practices can weaken the fair enforcement of laws and shift public spending toward targeted groups instead of universal welfare programs. This study uses panel data from the Varieties of Democracy Institute and applies a comparative approach to analyze Indonesia and Malaysia. A multiple linear regression …

Public Interest As An ‘Empty Signifier’: Discourse Hegemony Strategy Of Pro-Dam Group In The Contestation Of The Development Discourse Of The Bener Dam National Stragic Project., Muhammad Nadhif Achyansyah, Yusa Djuyandi

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This article examines how the discourse of public interest is constructed and mobilized by pro-dam actors to legitimize the construction of the Bener Dam National Strategic Project amid resistance against andesite quarry mining in Wadas Village, Purworejo Regency. Using Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe’s discourse analysis framework, this study employs qualitative methods to analyze textual and non-textual data drawn from official government documents, policy statements, press conferences, mass media coverage, and public communications by central and local governments as well as pro-dam community actors. The analysis shows that public interest functions as an empty signifier that is articulated as a …

The Strait Of Hormuz As An Instrument Of Iran’S Geoeconomic Statecraft In Shaping Foreign Policy Amid The Dynamics Of Contemporary Conflicts, Daffa Rabbani Widy Hayat, Noeryfqa Okta Harizal, Ahmad Sahide

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This study examines how Iran strategically utilizes the Strait of Hormuz as an instrument of geoeconomic statecraft in formulating foreign policy amid intensifying international sanctions following the United States withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018. Employing Neoclassical Realism and Geoeconomics as the theoretical framework, this study analyzes how domestic elite decision-making mediates systemic pressure and transforms geographical assets into sources of asymmetric bargaining power. Through a single-case study approach supported by qualitative deep analysis of institutional reports, academic literature, and policy documents, this study finds that Iran systematically operationalizes the Strait of Hormuz through three interconnected mechanisms: asymmetric military signaling, …

Fmp30p Is A Mitochondrial Phosphatidylinositol Hydrolase That Modulates Coq Biosynthesis, Zakery N Baker, Rachel M Guerra, Sean W Rogers, David J Pagliarini

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Organellar membranes feature bespoke lipid compositions; however, the enzymes that craft these compositions and the functional implications these lipids exert on membrane protein organization and activity are insufficiently understood. Here, we discover that the inner mitochondrial membrane protein Fmp30p, a member of the metallo-β-lactamase superfamily, displays phospholipase type D activity toward phosphatidylinositol (PI)-a notable mitochondrial membrane component with unclear functional roles. FMP30 deletion caused substantial and specific elevation of PI species in purified mitochondria. Augmenting mitochondrial PI levels in this way, or by targeting established PI-modifying enzymes to the organelle, increased coenzyme Q (CoQ) biosynthesis concomitant with elevated expression of …

Age-Stratified Clinicopathological Associations Of P16 Expression, Tumourinfiltrating Lymphocytes And Foxp3 Cells In Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Chong Wen Xin

Student Works (2020-2029)

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common oral malignancy with a rising incidence in younger adults. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection has emerged as a notable risk factor, with p16 being a surrogate marker. Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), including regulatory T cells (Tregs) identified by Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3), contribute to immune modulation within the OSCC tumour microenvironment (TME). Objectives: The study aims to identify potential agespecific patterns in p16 expression, TILs, and FOXP3 cells in OSCC, and to examine their associations with clinicopathological and sociodemographic factors across different age groups. Methodology: 78 OSCC cases diagnosed at Universiti Malaya …

Clinician Perspectives On Fistula Mental Health, Victoria K. Leonard

Doctoral Dissertations

Background – Obstetric fistula is a childbirth injury caused by prolonged labor that leads to stillbirth and incontinence, spurring social exclusion and isolation. These layers of trauma put women with fistula at great risk for psychological suffering, which has profound negative socioeconomic impacts on them, their families, and communities. This study captured treatment as usual at Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT), the country’s largest provider of fistula care.

Method – Improving holistic fistula treatment requires engaging the clinicians who care for women with fistula. This study aimed to investigate the training, beliefs, and treatment approaches of nurses and …

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Offer A New Therapeutic Target For Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus-Hemorrhagic Disease (Eehv-Hd), C Bradley Nelson, Madison I Sanborn, Ryan Kennington, Mckenna Rogers, Virginia R Pearson, Miranda Sharp, Lauren L Howard, Erin Latimer, Jennifer A Landolfi, Christine Molter, Erika Crook, Wendy Kiso, Dennis Schmitt, Paul D Ling, Kimberly Martinod, Joshua D Schiffman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Elephant populations are threatened by elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus-hemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD), a fast-acting infection that often kills very young elephants before they reach maturity. Because it strikes calves at a critical age for survival of the species, EEHV-HD is a major challenge for global conservation. Understanding how the disease causes such severe illness is essential to improving outcomes. In other hemorrhagic diseases, dangerous blood clots form when immune cells release sticky webs of DNA called neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). We investigate whether this process occurs in elephants with EEHV-HD. Here we show, for the first time, that elephant heterophils (neutrophils) release …

Choline Counteracts Pregnancy Undernutrition-Associated Colitis In Sheep By Restoring Microbiota Driven Bile Acid Metabolism, Huizhen Lu, Caiyun Fan, Zheng Sun, Lizhuang Hao, Shengyong Mao, Jianbo Cheng, Yanfeng Xue

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

High-fertility sheep experience undernutrition during late gestation, which induces body metabolic disruption and intestinal inflammation. Crucially, the gut microbiota-bile acid axis is a promising intestinal inflammation target, but how choline modulates this axis in livestock enteritis is unknown. This study investigated choline's protective mechanisms against undernutrition-induced intestinal inflammation in sheep, focusing on gut microbiota and bile acid regulation. Choline consistently alleviates colitis severity, restores epithelial barrier integrity, and suppresses intestinal inflammation. These protective effects are accompanied by pronounced remodeling of the colonic microbial ecosystem, characterized by the enrichment of Clostridiales bacterium to elevate bile salt hydrolase activity and regulate bile …

Coxfa4l2 Upregulation Preserves Residual Cytochrome C Oxidase Activity In Coxfa4-Related Leigh-Like Encephalopathy, Jiaze Gao, William L Macken, Chiara Pizzamiglio, Renata Kabiljo, Anna Lucia Francavilla, Pauline Gaignard, Antoine Pouzet, Jonathan Levy, Giulia Barcia, Jamie K Leighton, Efstathia Chronopoulou, Germaine Pierre, Riza Köksal Özgül, Ali Dursun, Rebecca Halligan, Helen Mundy, Javeria Raza Alvi, Tipu Sultan, William James Craigen, Lisa Emrick, Jill A Rosenfeld, Gehad Elmakkawy, Jihye Kim, Joseph J Gleeson, Aboulfazl Rad, Gabriela Oprea, Maqbool Hussain, Khalil Ur Rehman, Sadia Riaz, Robert W Taylor, Vincent Procaccio, Maha S Zaki, Erika Fernandez-Vizarra, Ciro Leonardo Pierri, Michael G Hanna, Henry Houlden, Reza Maroofian, Cristina Ugalde, Jan-Willem Taanman, Robert D S Pitceathly

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Primary mitochondrial diseases (PMDs) affect approximately 1 in 4300 individuals and cause early-onset neuromuscular and multisystem dysfunction with reduced lifespan. They result from pathogenic variants in mitochondrial or nuclear DNA that impair oxidative phosphorylation. Cytochrome c oxidase (COX; complex IV) deficiency is a well-established cause of PMD, leading to a broad spectrum of phenotypes. COXFA4 (cytochrome c oxidase subunit FA4), formerly NDUFA4, is a nuclear-encoded COX subunit, but its role in disease remains poorly defined. We report the largest genetically confirmed cohort of COXFA4-related PMD to date, comprising 13 individuals from 12 families with biallelic pathogenic COXFA4 variants. All present …

Developing A Framework For Mooc Dropout: The Role Of Utilitarian And Hedonic Values In Student Retention, Bipllab Roy, Mave D'Souza, Madhura Laghane

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have expanded access to higher education but continue to face persistently high dropout rates, raising concerns about their long‑term effectiveness and sustainability. This study develops and empirically tests a structural framework that links utilitarian values (perceived usefulness, certificate value, time flexibility), hedonic values (enjoyment, variety and novelty, personal interest alignment), and individual characteristics (goal orientation, self‑efficacy, motivation type) to MOOC student retention. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 200 MOOC learners from Christ University, Lavasa Campus, and analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) in AMOS. The results show that goal orientation, self‑efficacy …

Ethically Grounded Charismatic Leadership, Jiaxing Wu

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Charisma has long been praised as one of the best features that a leader could have to not only successfully inspire their employees but also be able to transform an organization through a shared vision. Although it has been widely regarded as a favorable leadership quality, prior research has also not fully explored the ethical foundations that determine whether its influence produces beneficial or destructive outcomes. With that duality in mind, this paper aims to conduct a literature review to examine the potential ethical issues within charismatic leadership theory moderated by the effect of ethical leadership. Drawing from the existing …

Utilizing Research Narratives To Advance Systems Thinking In Doctoral Education, Ryan Charles Weber, Kathleen Teresa Scott

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This study examines how narrative storytelling functions as a pedagogical mechanism for advancing systems thinking in doctoral education. Drawing on a qualitative narrative synthesis of publicly available scholarly literature, the analysis explores how narrative practices support sensemaking, complexity integration, and collaborative learning among doctoral students. Grounded in Senge’s (2006) learning organization framework, the study investigates how storytelling contributes to the development of mental models, shared vision, personal mastery, and team learning in advanced academic contexts. Findings indicate that narrative engagement enhances cognitive integration, deepens understanding of systemic interdependence, and strengthens collaborative discourse among emerging scholars. The study extends leadership and …

Analyzing The Impact: Foster Grandparent Program, Shanetta Weatherspoon, Miyue Chen, Monica Pereda

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

The Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) is a multigenerational approach to community volunteerism. The study uses intergenerational solidarity to conceptualize the impact of the FGP. The study aims to examine the impact of two dimensions by analyzing data from the Assignment Assessment Forms and the New General Self-Efficacy Scale. Paired t-tests were conducted to determine whether there is a difference in the mentees’ behavior pre- and post-intervention over four years and by way of three priority areas. Results indicated that the FGP has an impact on both the mentees and volunteers. Findings suggest that the program’s activities are the vehicle for …

The Intersection Of Bias, Critical Thinking, & Innovation: A Quantitative Analysis, Jacob Sands, Angel Huerta

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This study examines whether gender differences exist in critical thinking skills among elementary school students through a secondary quantitative analysis of an existing dataset (Putera, 2020). Using a sample of 25 students with complete data, the study employs linear regression and an independent samples t-test to evaluate the relationship between gender and critical thinking test scores. Results indicate that female students scored slightly higher on average than male students; however, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.634). Regression findings further confirm that gender is not a significant predictor of critical thinking performance. These findings align with existing literature …

Educate. Don’T Annihilate: A Narrative Inquiry Into Students With Dark Personality Traits Who Orchestrate Bullying Campaigns Against A Target Through Mob Formation, Zoey Roosevelt

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Less is understood about how peer relationships can escalate into coordinated exclusionary dynamics and sustained group-based targeting within student populations than about acceptance into a higher education program. Moreover, existing literature grounded in Social Identity Theory and Organizational Ostracism has primarily focused on workplace and organizational settings, leaving a gap in understanding these processes in higher education contexts. This study addresses that gap using Dark Personality Framework, Social Identity Theory, and Conflict Escalation Theory to explain how and why this phenomenon occurs. The study asks, “What happens when a higher education student with dark personality traits orchestrates a coordinated bullying …

Natural Resources Conflict In The Nile River Basin: Natural Resource Nationalism, Environmental Governance, And Transboundary Security., Reagan Ronald Okumu

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This article used a qualitative literature-based transformation methodology to examine governance and leadership in the shared use of the transboundary water of the River Nile Basin. This is important because the basin is conflict-ridden yet yearns for development, driven by natural resource discoveries and the utilization of the River Nile. Appropriate governance and leadership, along with cooperation, are required for development to be achieved. The article examines the increased competition over the exploitation of natural resources, driven by development objectives, pressured by population growth, and fueled by the need for hydroelectric generation, oil and gas extraction, and mining by international …

Institutional Responses To The College Mental Health Crisis: A Critical Systems Review, Angel Huerta

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

The mental health crisis among U.S. college students continues to escalate, exposing structural, cultural, and systemic failures within higher education. This review synthesizes evidence on institutional responses, drawing on Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and Critical Theory, to examine how policies, faculty interactions, campus climate, and resource distribution influence student mental health outcomes. Findings reveal persistent gaps between policy intentions and practice, insufficient counseling capacity, inconsistency in faculty accountability, and inequities affecting marginalized student groups. The review highlights how organizational structures can unintentionally reinforce power imbalances and reproduce harm. Recommendations include system-level alignment of policies and practices, mandatory faculty training, enhanced …

Teacher Agency In The Classroom, Joy Gibson, Lizeth Sandoval

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Teacher agency is an important factor in student success; it is the ability to intentionally lead classrooms to support student learning outcomes, environments, and school culture. However, teacher agency remains underexamined as a construct for neurodiverse students in K-12 classrooms. This literature review argues that teacher agency is an essential component of genuine inclusivity for neurodiverse students and supports asset-based instruction. Grounded in social-cultural theory, this literature review examines five interconnected areas: theoretical foundation for teacher agency, neurodiversity as an asset-based approach, instructional strategies, teacher development, and the role of collaboration and family engagement. Findings suggest that instructional barriers, including …

Equity, Identity, And Representation In Community College Leadership, Jacob Fry, Tashaka Merriweather, Jennifer Hoeger

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Community colleges provide important access to higher education for many diverse student populations, yet aspiring leaders still face equity, representation, and structural barriers for women and underrepresented groups. Prior research highlights the persistence of gendered norms, gatekeeping practices, and underdeveloped leadership pipelines despite the increased attention to diversity within leadership in community colleges (Eddy & Khwaja, 2019; Hines, 2023; Burmicky & Hartman, 2023). This qualitative phenomenological study examines how leadership perceives the role of women and underrepresented groups in leadership. The study focused on the School of Continuing Education at Santa Ana College and involved semi-structured interviews with 11 leaders …

Leadership Practices And Subordinate Perceptions In Continuing Education: A Case Study At Santa Ana College, Jacob Fry, Jennifer Hoeger, Tashaka Merriweather

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Community colleges play a critical role in expanding access to higher education and workforce development for diverse populations, yet traditional leader-centric models remain prevalent, despite growing calls for collaborative and distributed leadership approaches (Eddy et al., 2023; Fulton-Calkins & Milling, 2005). This qualitative phenomenological study explores leadership, styles, strategies, and perceptions of subordinates among continuing education leaders at a California community college. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 administrators, faculty, and classified professionals at Santa Ana College’s School of Continuing Education. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-phase thematic analysis approach. Findings identified four dominant leadership approaches: collaborative/participatory, …

When God Lifts The Veil: Transformational Leadership And Political Skills Model As Counters To Machiavellianism And Organizational Politics In The Los Angeles City Council, John Sandy Campbell

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This paper examines how Machiavellianism and Organizational Political Behavior contribute to destructive organizational politics and applies Transformational Leadership Theory and the Political Skill Model as countervailing frameworks to the Dark Triad. Grounded in leadership and organizational behavior research, this theory-based conceptual paper provides a theory-driven analysis that synthesizes established models to explore how power and unethical governance erode public trust. This paper examines the relationship between leadership behavior and power dynamics in a contemporary political context. Rather than relying on empirical data collection, it draws on Transformational Leadership Theory, the Political Skills Model, the Dark Triad, Organizational Politics, and Organizational …

When The Therapist Is An Algorithm: Understanding Autism Spectrum Students’ Acceptance Of Generative Ai As A Mental Well-Being Tool Through The Technological Acceptance Model, Jossy P. George, Peter Muttungal, Benny Jeyekumar Davidson, Nishi Priya

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

This study examines the psychological and technological factors of the acceptance and emotional well-being of 349 college students with autism who use generative artificial intelligence tools as sources of psychological and emotional support. Grounded on the model of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the research studies relationships among perceived empathy, perceived usefulness, ease of use, emotional trust, continuance intention, and overall well-being. Structural equation modelling found that the perceived empathy was a significant predictor of ease of use and usefulness, while emotional trust and continuance intention proved to be significant predictors of emotional well-being. To reinforce these results, predictive modelling performed …

The Efficacy Of Dialectical Behavior Therapy For Anorexia Nervosa In Adolescent Females: A Literature Review, Tyler L. Brink

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Anorexia nervosa (AN) in adolescent females is associated with high mortality, significant relapse rates, and cognitive and emotional disturbances, suggesting that existing treatments may not sufficiently address core maintaining mechanisms. This literature review synthesizes current research examining the efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT) for adolescent females with AN, with emphasis on neurobiological vulnerability, emotional dysregulation, and maladaptive overcontrol. Neuroimaging research indicates reductions in cortical thickness and gray matter in regions associated with self-referential processing and emotional regulation, while emerging evidence suggests structural plasticity following mindfulness-based interventions. Behavioral studies demonstrate that emotional dysregulation …

Ministry Leaders Applying Psychological Theories To Overcome Apathy: A Case Study, Glen A. Bowman

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This case study examines the persistent challenge of congregational apathy and the efficacy of integrating psychological motivational theories to revitalize a stagnant church culture. The research focuses on a congregation in California’s Central Valley characterized by a "lukewarm" spiritual atmosphere in much of its leadership and membership. The case study follows a newly appointed minister—representing a different age bracket and cultural background—as he navigates the resistance of an entrenched, change-averse leadership team. The researcher evaluated the practical application of three psychological frameworks to combat complacency and found that the Action-Trait Theory proved itself as the most successful method. The theory …

Defining The Opioid Crisis And The Limited Role Of The Criminal Justice System Resolving It, Julie A. Warren

University of Memphis Law Review

No abstract provided.