Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Holding The Public Trust: Forms Of Trust In Democratic Countries And Their Determinants, David Werner

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

Across both established and newly established democracies, notions of trust in government appear to be falling. These realities prompt investigations into both the determinations of trust in government and its positive relationship to democracy. A host of literature supports institutional approach theory, posting that the overarching government system predominantly determines trust. Analyzing survey questions at the country-level across 16 countries from the World Values Survey (WVS) Waves 5 - 7, this research affirms differences in trust relating to regulative, impartial institutions, trust in political, governmental institutions, and general social trust between citizens. Further, this study finds that more democratic countries, …

The Irrationalness Of Game Theory, Oscar Romero

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

In February 1909, at a time where political scientists were confused as to their purpose to society, the Right Honorable James Bryce highlighted the three most important criteria for effective research of political science at the fifth annual meeting of the American Political Science Association. He declares that political scientists “1) must be critical, 2) must beware of superficial resemblances, and 3) must endeavor to disengage the personal or accidental from the general causes at work” (numbers added) (8). These specific criteria ensure that any political science research conducted leads society to increase its understanding of the laws that govern …

The Muslim Brotherhood’S Influence And The Democratization Of The Middle East, Samira K. Kassem

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Muslim Brotherhood is the most well-known and influential Islamist group in the Middle East and has been since its founding in 1928. The group has been condemned by the West, specifically the United States, for being too radical, as well as by other radical Islamist groups, who accuse the Brother hood of embracing democracy and denying jihad. This study aims to determine how the Muslim Brotherhood gained their influence and whether their existence has had a positive or negative effect on democratization in the region. Specifically, it explores how colonialism in the region allowed the Muslim Brotherhood to gain …

A Perfect Recipe: The Reemergence Of Democratization In The Federal Republic Of Germany, Rachel Williams

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

After German dictator Adolf Hitler presumably committed suicide in 1945, his authoritarian regime fell, the Allies won World War II, and democracy reemerged in the form of the Federal Republic of Germany (F.R.G.). The transition to democracy was made possible by the intervention of international actors (the western Allies), the discontinuity of the Nazi party and its elites, and the formation of new, democratic parties (the Christian Democratic Union, Christian Social Union, and Social Democratic Party). Each of these factors combined to result in a high-functioning democracy by 1960 in which democratic participation was encouraged. This case is unique in …

Mitigating The Environmental Impacts Of Explosive Ordnance And Land Release, Mine Action Review

Global CWD Repository

Environmental considerations are rightly gaining increased prominence and awareness. Environmental experts agree that unprecedented changes in climate and biodiversity are taking place, threatening nature and human livelihoods around the world. The humanitarian community increasingly understands the need to identify and assess how their operations affect the natural environment and to mitigate the negative environmental impacts wherever possible.

The mine action sector has begun to recognise that in order to follow the humanitarian principle of “do no harm” it must be aware of and take action to mitigate the potential environmental damage that can occur during land release operations. While an …

Clearing The Mines 2021, Mine Action Review

Global CWD Repository

As at 1 October 2021, 56 States and 3 other areas (territories that are not internationally recognised as States) were contaminated by anti-personnel mines, as listed in Table 1. Asia (including the Middle East) is the most affected continent, with 23 mine-contaminated States. Most are not party to the APMBC. Across Asia (including the Middle East), Afghanistan, Cambodia, Iraq, Oman, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, and Yemen are all States Parties. China, India, Iran, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Lebanon, Myanmar, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Pakistan, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), …

Model-Based Estimates Of Population Of Oregon Census Blocks As Of April 1, 2020, Population Research Center, Portland State University

Publications, Reports and Presentations

The methodology used to produce population estimates as of 4/1/2020 for the state at the block group level relies on data from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 (SF1), 2020 Census Apportionment Results, US Census partnership programs supporting the 2020 Census, 2020 Tiger/Line boundary files, 2015-2019 5-year American Community Survey (ACS) files, ESRI Updated Demographics vintage 2020, and estimates from the Portland State University Population Research Center and US Census Population Division.

The 2010 decennial census block file was the baseline for average household size, and counts of housing units and population by race in 2010. Block group or tract …

An Example Of Converting Clinical Study Mortality Data Into A Life Table: The U.S. Population With Sickle Cell Disease, David A. Swanson

Publications, Reports and Presentations

There are approximately 100,000 people in the United States with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and the paucity of life tables for this population makes it difficult to determine if research and treatment innovations have improved their life expectancy over time and relative to the general U.S. population. Using mortality data generated in a population-based surveillance study over the period, 2004 to 2008, this paper generates a life table for this study population circa 2006 and applies it to the US population that has SCD. I find that a newborn with this condition circa 2006 had a life expectancy of approximately …

Stronger As One? Examining Us-Saudi Relations Since 9/11, Caroline Jenkins

CMC Senior Theses

In the first several years following the attacks on September 11, 2001, many in both the American political elite and general public questioned the merits of the US’s strong alliance with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as fifteen of the nineteen hijackers, as well as Osama bin Laden, were Saudi citizens. The Kingdom was known for its lax regulations surrounding terrorist financing, which played a role in al Qaeda’s ability to carry out the 9/11 attacks. Due to this, many called for the US to end its historic partnership with the Saudis.

However, under further examination, it becomes clear that …

A Europe Of Regionalists: How Has European Integration Impacted Regionalist Political Parties’ Electoral Support?, Brandon N. Piel

CMC Senior Theses

This study investigates the question: How has European integration impacted regionalist political parties’ electoral support? European integration and regionalism are theoretically connected by Seth Jolly’s viability theory which explains that supranational organizations, such as the European Union (and precursor organizations), make small countries more viable. Using the regions of Flanders, Corsica, Sardinia, Padania, Galicia, and Catalonia as case studies, this thesis identifies moments of European integration and then examines if regionalist electoral results match the expectations of viability theory. This thesis found support for the idea that European integration is positively affecting regionalist political parties in elections; however, there often …

Doing Assessment: A Multicase Study Of Preschool Teachers’ Language And Literacy Data Practices, Rachel E. Schachter, Shayne B. Piasta

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Early childhood research and policy have promoted the use of language and literacy assessment data to inform instruction. Yet, there is a limited understanding of preschool teachers’ data practices and sensemaking, particularly when considered from the perspectives of practicing teachers. In this multicase study, we used a phenomenological approach to generate a theory about preschool teachers’ data practices in relation to supporting children’s language and literacy outcomes. Twenty preschool teachers participated in a series of three observations, planning interviews, and stimulated recall interviews designed to tap their pedagogical reasoning and data use practices. The framework that emerged through iterative within-and …

Sensitray: An Integrated Measuring Device For Monitoring Children’S Mealtime Dietary Intake, Hunter S. Guru, Anthony D. Weng, Santosh Pitla, Dipti Dev

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Childhood nutrition establishes consumption norms that affect an individual’s health over the course of their lives. However, early nutrition interventions to establish such norms are uncommon owing to the various inefficiencies associated with current methods of measuring childhood nutrition. Here, we present an IoT measuring device, called the SensiTray, which accurately tracks mealtime intake in a child-friendly and cost-effective fashion. Principal technologies underlying the SensiTray (including mass-sensing technologies, microcontrollers) are identified and analyzed, along with other design choices. Operation of the SensiTray is explained with special attention given to SensiTray software peripherals and algorithms. Preliminary testing consisted of static and …

Digital Disruption Solution For Airlines In Brazil, Camila Bisinoto Borges, Cristiane Lunardi Das Neves Rodrigues, Daniel Dias Landroni, Tatiane Mendonça, Leila Halawi

Publications

Since March 2017, the cost of denied boarding began to draw all Brazilian airlines' attention because of the Resolution 400 of the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency. This Resolution covers several items, but we will focus on the penalty that the airlines need to pay for each passenger who had his boarding denied involuntarily in domestic flights. Our goal is to create a plugin that any airline could use in their self-service check-in channels and direct communication with the passenger. It could also become a way to offer proactive accommodation options and monetary compensations due to itinerary or ticket schedule …

Patent Analysis Of Shanghai Antitumor Drugs And Research On The Sources Of Innovation Strategies, Na Bao, Xin Xu

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance]Through the analysis of Shanghai's anti-tumor drug patent information,it provides valuable decision-making and strategic support for the implementation of innovative activities and future development of the Shanghai biomedical industry.[Method/process]Carry out information mining and description of Shanghai's anti-cancer drug patents,and explore the innovation capabilities of Shanghai's anti-cancer drugs from the three aspects of high-level patents,scientific innovation community,and patent achievement transformation,and understand the development context of innovation strategies.[Result/conclusions The research results show that to improve Shanghai's scientific and technological innovation ability,it is necessary to increase high-level patent output,coordinate the development of regional innovation communities,improve the transformation of patent achievements,and provide effective guarantees …

Nonprofit Capacity To Manage Hurricane-Pandemic Threat: Local And National Perspectives On Resilience During Covid-19, Nicole S. Hutton, Steven W. Mumford, Marina Saitgalina, Juita-Elena (Wie) Yusuf, Joshua G. Behr, Rafael Diaz, John J. Kiefer

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

This paper examines nonprofits' capacity for responding to simultaneous hurricane-pandemic threat, addressing: (1) strategies nonprofits use to deliver services during the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) how natural hazards may affect nonprofit roles in emergency service delivery during a pandemic. Data come from a survey of New Orleans-based nonprofits demonstrating effects of pandemic on local nonprofit service delivery, and workshops with U.S. coastal community stakeholders exploring expectations for nonprofit roles in emergency operations nationwide. Nonprofits have applied resilient strategies including virtual operations, staff reductions, and funding diversification, but vulnerabilities remain. Findings guide a research agenda for building nonprofit and community resilience.

Re-Spatializing Gangs: An Exponential Random Graph Model Of Twitter Data To Analyze The Geospatial Distribution Of Gang Member Connections, Ryan J. Roberts

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

Gang studies often use location-based approaches to explain gang members’ interconnectedness. Although this perspective remains consistent with the proximity principle that the smaller the geographic space, the greater the likelihood of observing connections between individuals, location-based studies limit our understanding of gang member connections to narrowly defined geographic spaces at specific points in time. The advent of social media has re-spatialized gang member interconnectedness to unbounded geographic spaces, where the preservation of online activity can extend indefinitely. Despite having an online presence, most research examining the digital footprint of gangs tends to be descriptive. This study collects Twitter data to …

Immersion's Relationship To Enjoyment In Gaming, Ronald Ray Eddy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The term immersion has become ubiquitous in descriptions of entertainment activities, including theme park attractions, virtual reality experiences, video games, and more. In nearly all cases, an expectation is that immersion in an activity is a desired outcome. However, this implication is challenged by a lack of research into the relationship between immersion and enjoyment. A further challenge is presented by the lack of a consensus among researchers regarding a precise definition of immersion. This dissertation explores the immersion-enjoyment relationship by first examining the construct of immersion itself, followed by an exploration of the myriad concepts surrounding immersion, including engagement, …

Method Validation Of Headspace Gas Chromatography With Dual Flame Ionization Detection For Analysis Of Blood Alcohol Concentration And Other Volatile Organic Compounds, Caroline A. Fudala

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Ethanol is one of the most commonly encountered substances in toxicology analysis and is the most misused substance. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) analysis is performed for a variety of scenarios, including cases of driving under the influence, drug facilitated crimes, intoxication deaths, workplace drug testing, substance use treatment centers, probation/parole, and other clinical settings. Due to the high prevalence of ethanol in forensic and clinical casework a fast, accurate, and cost effective method for BAC analysis is critical. Headspace gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (HS-GC-FID) is the standard for BAC analysis. This is due to its ease of use, …

Creation And Optimization Of An Optical Trapping Microfluidic Device For The Separation Of Mock Forensic Sexual Assault Samples, Mackenzie Lally

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Cell mixtures are often seen in forensic samples and commonly involve sexual assault cases where mixtures of sperm cells and vaginal epithelial cells are frequently encountered. This produces challenges in downstream analysis in the form of STR mixture profiles. The only method currently in use in crime laboratories for front-end sperm and epithelial cell separation is differential extraction. This method often results in STR mixture profiles due to carryover into both the male and female fractions and suffers from a wide range of efficiency depending on the laboratory or individual processing the sample. Optical trapping offers an alternative method for …

Supervisors’ Experience Of Emotion Work In Higher Degree By Research Supervision, Natalia Hazell

Theses : Honours

This research explored academic supervisors’ experiences with emotion work specifically related to their role of supervision in higher degree by research (HDR) candidates and how supervisors managed the complexities inherent in the role of student supervision. This study utilised 45 to 90 minute semi-structured interviews with seven HDR supervisors and explored their lived experiences with emotion work, in the context of four Australian universities. A qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach was adopted to elicit a deep and rich understanding of this phenomenon. A comprehensive literature review informed the theoretical discussions and analysis of the data revealed four superordinate themes: …

"Who Can Help Me?'': Knowledge Infused Matching Of Support Seekers And Support Providers During Covid-19 On Reddit, Manas Gaur, Kaushik Roy, Aditya Sharma, Biplav Srivastava, Amit Sheth

Publications

During the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, subreddits on Reddit, such as r/Coronavirus saw a rapid growth in user's requests for help (support seekers - SSs) including individuals with varying professions and experiences with diverse perspectives on care (support providers - SPs). Currently, knowledgeable human moderators match an SS with a user with relevant experience, i.e, an SP on these subreddits. This unscalable process defers timely care. We present a medical knowledge-infused approach to efficient matching of SS and SPs validated by experts for the users affected by anxiety and depression, in the context of with COVID-19. After matching, each SP to …

Dynamic And Non-Neutral Productivity Effects Of Foreign Ownership: A Nonparametric Approach, Yoonseok Lee, Mary Lovely, Hoang Pham

Center for Policy Research

This paper studies two novel productivity characteristics of foreign acquisition on high-tech manufacturing firms: the dynamic and the non-Hicks-neutral effects. A dynamic productivity effect of foreign ownership arises when adoption of foreign technology and management practices takes time to fully realize. Furthermore, these dynamic adjustments may be capital or labor augmenting as adoption of advanced production technologies tends to have non-neutral productivity implications in developed countries. We propose and implement an econometric framework to estimate both effects using firm-level data from China's manufacturing sector. Our framework extends the nonparametric productivity framework developed by Gandhi, Navarro and Rivers (2020), in which …

On The Ground: Real-World Solutions: Taking The Best From A Bad Situation, Rachel S. Evans, Jason Tubinis

Articles, Chapters and Online Publications

A review of collaboration apps that made 2020 more bearable.

Emotional Intelligence And Safety Citizenship Among Army Aviators, Zachary T. Dugger, Bernadette Mccrory

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of the relationship between trait emotional intelligence and safety citizenship among United States Army aviators. The study includes analysis of survey responses from 29 individual aviators. Regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between safety citizenship, emotional intelligence, and 15 emotional intelligence facets. Results indicate a significant association (F(1,28) = 15.45; p = 0.001) between safety citizenship and emotional intelligence, and between safety citizenship and 3 emotional intelligence facets: Adaptability (F(1,25) = 23.91; p < 0.001), Self Esteem (F(1,25) = 10.75; p = 0.003), and Optimism (F(1,25) = 8.71; p = …

The Determination Of The Factors Affecting Air Transportation Passenger Numbers, Tüzün Tolga İnan Asst. Prof. Dr.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

So long as human beings are required to go between places, the civil aviation industry will always exist. In this study, a country-based examination has been applied to air passenger numbers. 50 countries are selected according to the highest rating of air transportation passenger numbers, gross domestic product (GDP), total population, and human development index (HDI) data. 28 of these countries are included in the analysis which is common in at least three of these rankings. The relationship between the four parameters is examined via correlation analysis. Thereafter, the related parameters were taken as independent variables in multiple linear regression …

The Influence Of Personality, Safety Attitudes, And Risk Perception Of Pilots: A Modeling And Mediation Perspective, Scott R. Winter, Joseph R. Keebler, Tracy L. Lamb, Richard Simonson, Robert Thomas, Stephen Rice

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Objective: The purpose of the current study was to assess the influence of personality traits on safety attitudes and risk perceptions. Background: The ability to accurately assess risk remains a focal point of aviation training. This research seeks to understand if safety attitudes serve as a mediator. Method: Using a sample of 2,857 pilots, a statistical model was created through two independent stages. In stage 1, approximately 50% of the data were used to create the model using structural equation modeling techniques, and in stage 2, the model was independently validated. Results: The findings indicated that personality factors positively influenced …

Leadership Style And Communication Style Of Airline Pilots: Perceived Associations With Crew Members’ Satisfaction And Effort, Carlos Rouco, Maria Eduarda Soares, Eliana Mendes, Soraia Jamal

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Leadership and communication have been identified as paramount factors for flight safety and efficiency but research on the effects of these factors is scarce. This study analyzes which leadership styles and which communication styles are perceived by airline pilots to be associated with their teams’ satisfaction and extra effort. A survey was conducted with a total of 105 airline pilots, and a research model was tested with structural equation modeling. Results indicated that participative leadership is the only leadership style retained by the model explaining satisfaction and extra effort of crew members. Participative leadership is positively related to assertive communication …

Prediction Models For Willingness To Support Private And Government Space Ventures: A Regression Study, Danita Baghdasarin, Sheri Hashemi, Scott Winter, Stephen Rice

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Public opinion is critical to the future of United States (US) space ventures as it can affect factors such as funding and legislation. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that influence the American public’s willingness to support both private and government space ventures. A set of 15 possible predictors were identified via a review of similar articles and surveys, including demographic information, social media and news consumption behaviors, offline activity, and opinions about space ventures. A total of 638 adults from the US participated in this study via Amazon ® Mechanical Turk ®. A multiple regression analysis …

[Introduction To] Race, Removal, And The Right To Remain : Migration And The Making Of The United States / Samantha Seeley., Samantha Seeley

Bookshelf

This work explores the conflicts over migration at the center of the social, political, intellectual, and physical landscape of the early United States. Examining the voluntary and forced migrations of Indigenous, African American, and Anglo Americans in the decades immediately following the Revolution, Samantha Seeley argues that the United States took shape as a white republic through contentious negotiations over who could move and where, who could remain and how. Removal was not sweeping, top-down federal legislation. Instead, it was a battle fought on multiple fronts. It encompassed tribal leaders' attempts to expel white settlers from Native lands and African …

Building Strong Academic Libraries And Library Professionals In Uganda Through The University Of Pretoria Carnegie Cpd Programme, Gorrety Maria Juma, Sarah Nakaziba, Malerne Holmner

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Academic libraries are encountering numerous changes due to the emerging information communication technologies trends and the ever-changing information-seeking behaviour of their users. For the librarians to effectively implement these trends and remain competitive, they need to be regularly engaged in continuing professional development (CPD) activities. The study aimed to find out the factors that influenced the motivation to participate in the University of Pretoria (UP) Carnegie CPD programme and the potential impact on service delivery of the selected academic libraries in Uganda as represented in the programme. The study applied a qualitative research design with an interpretive research approach. Exponential …