26734 research outputs found
Sort by
Examining the Role of Bribery and Corruption in Grade Manipulation: Implications for Scholarly and Scientific Integrity
No full textThe integrity of academic grading systems has come under scrutiny as incidents of manipulation and corruption continue to surface across global educational institutions (Coughlan, 2013). This presentation builds on a decade-long investigation into the role of various stakeholders in grade scandals, focusing particularly on the alleged practice of bribery and its broader implications for both scholastic and scientific integrity.
Research Objectives: This research aims to explore the motivations behind grade-related fraud, the stakeholders involved, and the far-reaching consequences of such practices for educational policies and societal norms. Specifically, it seeks to evaluate whether claims of grade manipulation (Sethi, 2015; Marra, 2016; Paybarah, 2021) are substantiated or speculative.
Methods: The study draws on extensive analysis of news media reports concerning grade manipulation scandals. Through qualitative review, we identify patterns of behavior, the various actors involved (students, educators, parents, administrators, and third parties), and the socio-political factors that enable such actions. By synthesizing media narratives from multiple incidents across different educational contexts, we examine the role of bribery, coercion, and other unethical practices in shaping grading outcomes.
Results: Our investigation highlights a disturbing trend: bribery emerges as a common thread across multiple scandals. Financial incentives, gifts, and other forms of coercion have been documented as influencing grading decisions at various academic levels (Awan, 2013; Leo, 2017; Adams, 2024). This manipulation occurs within a broader culture of “grade grubbing” (McLaughlin, 1966; Churchill, 2000), where academic success is commodified, and the pursuit of personal gain overshadows academic integrity (Gerega, 2021). Notably, incidents such as forged certificates to enter prestigious medical schools (Yalirozy, 2022) serve as key examples of how bribery fuels academic corruption.
Discussion: The rise of grade manipulation can be attributed to the hyper-competitive nature of the global academic marketplace, where academic success is often equated with future career opportunities (Sharma, 2015; Ellen, 2018). In such an environment, students, parents, educational administrators and third parties may resort to unethical measures to secure desirable academic outcomes. This culture undermines the very foundation of academic institutions, threatening the credibility of qualifications and the integrity of research outputs (Fernandes et al., 2023; Van Noorden, 2023).
Our analysis also investigates into the validity of media claims. Are these practices isolated incidents, or do they reflect a larger systemic issue? We critically assess whether the evidence presented in media reports is robust enough to substantiate claims of widespread fraud, or whether the narrative is shaped by broader anxieties about the evolving nature of academic integrity.
Implications for Scholarly and Scientific Integrity:
Grade manipulation not only erodes trust in the educational system but also has profound consequences for the scientific community. Academic qualifications serve as a measure of a student's capabilities, and when grading systems are compromised, the reliability of these qualifications is called into question. This, in turn, could have implications for the quality of research and innovation, as distorted grading can lead to the promotion of underqualified individuals in both educational and professional settings (Glendinning, 2019).
Furthermore, we consider the role of institutional policies in either enabling or mitigating grade manipulation. The existing frameworks for academic integrity at various levels (K-12, high school, and university) are evaluated, revealing significant gaps in their ability to address and prevent fraudulent practices.
Conclusion: This presentation seeks to provide a comprehensive examination of the complexities surrounding grade manipulation, particularly the role of bribery in distorting academic outcomes. By critically assessing the evidence, we aim to contribute to a clearer understanding of the prevalence and impact of these practices. We will propose recommendations for policy reforms aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and ethical standards in grading systems.
Ultimately, fostering a culture that values academic honesty and ethical behavior is essential to curbing grade manipulation and preserving the credibility of academic qualifications. This research aspires to contribute to a wider dialogue on safeguarding academic integrity, ensuring that grades reflect true educational achievement, and maintaining the quality of the educational process within both the academic and scientific communities.
Keywords: Grade manipulation, bribery, corruption, educational policy and practice, academic integrity, scientific integrity
Recommended citation:Allen, S., Jivani, R., & Eaton, S. E. (2025, June 16–19). Examining the Role of Bribery and Corruption in Grade Manipulation: Implications for Scholarly and Scientific Integrity [Paper presentation] European Conference on Ethics and Integrity in Academia (ECEIA) Uppsala, Sweden. https://hdl.handle.net/1880/12192
Mythologies of Outer Space
No full textEvery culture and society has read stories in the night sky. From the careful attention of astronomers across all times and all parts of the world to the search for alien life, the stories found in the shapes of constellations to the expansive imaginings of science fiction, there has always been life up there, at the very least, for our imaginations.
Mythologies of Outer Space brings together academics and artists to explore diverse imaginings of outer space. It examines questions that, in a world where outer space is increasingly accessible, are no longer only science fiction. Is outer space terra nullius, open for settlement? What if there is life beyond earth? Will we repeat the mistakes of the colonial age on other planets? Should parts of outer space be protected, like nature reserves? What about resource extraction? Do celestial bodies, like the moon, have rights?
Astronaut Robert Thirsk, Mi’kmaw astronomer Hilding Neilson, digital humanities scholar Chris Pak, and outer space archaeologist Alice Gorman, among others, are joined by artists including David Hoffos and Dianne Bos, literary scholars, art critics, scientists, and a poet to explore how humanity thinks about outer space in this joyful, curious book
Exploring EEG phenotype in a female fragile X syndrome mouse model
No full textBackground Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), the most common monogenic cause of autism, currently lacks effective, broadly applicable treatments. Despite promising preclinical results, many clinical trials have failed—highlighting the need for reliable translational biomarkers. Electroencephalography (EEG) has emerged as a promising tool, with recent studies identifying EEG abnormalities, particularly in male FXS patients and rodent models, such as increased gamma power and reduced or unchanged alpha power. However, female models remain understudied, despite FXS being an X-linked disorder with notable sex-based phenotypic differences. Additionally, few studies examine EEG biomarkers across developmental stages, though such comparisons are crucial for understanding disease progression. To address these gaps, we investigated EEG features in female fmr1 knockout (KO) mice—a well-established FXS model—at both juvenile and adult ages, comparing them to wild-type (WT) controls. Methods and Results EEG recordings were obtained using a wireless open-source EEG system (OSERR), with signals collected from frontal-parietal electrodes during three conditions: home cage, light/dark arena, and open field test. We analyzed absolute and relative EEG power, peak alpha frequency, theta-beta ratio, phase-amplitude and amplitude-amplitude coupling, and signal complexity. Our results showed that alpha, beta, gamma, and total absolute power were elevated in KO mice compared to WT at both ages. Gamma power (absolute and relative) increased with age in both genotypes, while relative theta power decreased in KO mice. Additionally, KO mice exhibited altered cross-frequency coupling, increased peak alpha frequency, and a reduced theta-beta ratio. EEG complexity, however, remained unchanged. Discussion and Conclusion Our findings reinforce gamma power elevation as a consistent EEG biomarker across FXS models, including female mice. However, not all biomarkers observed in FXS patients (e.g., peak alpha frequency, theta-beta ratio, and signal complexity) were mirrored in female KO mice, suggesting partial translational validity. Notably, differences between male and female fmr1KO mice also point to presence of a potential sex-specific EEG phenotypes. These results emphasize the need to consider sex and developmental stage when using EEG as a translational biomarker in FXS research and highlight which EEG features may be more reliably translated from animal models to human studies
Creating a Health Index for Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) in the Canadian Arctic
No full textThis thesis looks at the health of narwhal, Monodon monoceros from several perspectives. A critical review examines current knowledge of narwhal health at an individual and population level. Information on health parameters is a necessary input for monitoring plans that provide information for the conservation and management of Arctic marine mammal species, yet this information can be difficult to obtain due to the remoteness and migratory nature of many of these species. This review considers health parameters including disease, harvest, predation, disturbance, climate change, habitat loss, contaminants and changes in food webs. Gaps in our knowledge of narwhal health are noted. Working with Inuit collaborators, thorough necropsy examinations were conducted on thirteen harvested narwhal. Gross and histopathology findings are reported, as are the results of serological and molecular testing for pathogens of interest. Three proxies of health were investigated using an archive of narwhal skin and blubber tissue samples from the Canadian Arctic, spanning the years 1982-2017. Blubber cortisol levels were found to increase over time, and in response to severe acute stress related to ice-entrapment. Variation in the skin microbiome correlated with changes in level of physiological stress, and candidate protein biomarkers of stress were identified through sequencing of the skin proteome. Blubber cortisol levels and skin microbiome variation were found to co-vary with increasing stress in narwhal. These findings provide baseline information and analyses which can inform a health index for narwhal
Identifying novel functions of the SHOX homeobox 2 gene within the developing mouse hindbrain
No full textThe SHOX homeobox 2 (Shox2) gene is required for proper embryonic development of the heart, limb, palate, spinal cord, and brain. The conditional inactivation of Shox2 in the developing central nervous system causes mutant mice to be born with impaired motor coordination and facial paresis, due to a loss of Shox2 expression in cerebellar Purkinje cells and facial visceral and branchial motor neurons. Neonatal lethality also occurs in these mutants 18-26 hours after birth due to an undescribed neural function of Shox2. Here, we characterized the spatiotemporal recombinase activity of the Hoxb1Cre, Egr2Cre, Atoh1-Cre, MafbCre, Hoxb4-ENE-Cre, Wnt1-Cre, and Nes-Cre mouse lines in the developing embryo, neonatal brain, and cochlea, before using a subset of these lines to conditionally inactivate (LOF) and overexpress (GOF) Shox2 in the developing mouse. Hoxb1Cre activity in rhombomere 4, from which facial visceral and branchial motor neurons arise, resulted in Shox2 GOF embryos with facial nerve fasciculation defects. Egr2Cre had activity in rhombomeres 3 and 5, which contribute cells to the ascending auditory pathway; generated Shox2 GOF mice subsequently showed significant reductions in both acoustic startle response and sensorimotor gating during pre-pulse inhibition tests. MafbCre was active in rhombomeres 5 and 6, and in brain interneuron populations; generated Shox2 LOF neonates died 14-24 hours after birth, following the detection of decreased inspiratory amplitudes, increased breath period variability, and greater apnea durations during whole-body plethysmography. Shox2 expression in these mutants was notably lost in the medullary medial reticular formation, which contributes to respiratory rhythm regulation in neonatal mice. This work provides evidence of novel roles for Shox2 in facial nerve fasciculation, acoustic startle modulation, and respiratory rhythm stabilization, and reinforces the necessity of iii Shox2 expression in the hindbrain for neonatal survival. These experiments also demonstrate the cellular and functional conservation between central pattern generators in the spinal cord and brainstem
Islamophobia in Canadian Nursing: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study
No full textMuslim Nurses in Canada are experiencing Islamophobia in the workplace as well as in educational institutions. These experiences result in increased mental distress for these nurses, social isolation at the workplace, and considerations of leaving the nursing profession. This thesis explores the experiences of Islamophobia for Registered Nurses who wear the hijab at work in Canada. This study is grounded in Critical Race Theory and aims to answer the following research question: What are the experiences of Islamophobia for female Canadian Registered Nurses who wear the hijab? A total of six participants were interviewed, and the results were analyzed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis method. Muslim nurses’ experiences were characterized by their sense of belonging. Key findings consist of the experiences of Islamophobia being related to the negative stereotypical identity of what it means to be a Muslim woman being associated with these nurses, how they discover their own identity as nurses and finally, how they reconcile their personal and social identities as Muslim women with their identity as Registered Nurses. This study adds to the literature on this topic by uncovering the internal process of self-discovery that Muslim nurses go through after experiencing Islamophobia through being assigned an identity. This process helps them to discover their own identities as well as reconcile what it means to them to be Muslim nurses, thus allowing them to be able to practice comfortably at the workplace. Recommendations of this study are that policy changes should be enacted which protect Muslim nurses and work to reduce the normalization of Islamophobia and the prejudiced beliefs about Muslims in the nursing profession to prevent incidents of Islamophobia. Secondly, more education needs be provided to nursing students as well as staff regarding anti-racism and Islamophobia to encourage the creation of supportive nursing places. Finally, more support needs to be provided to Muslim nurses who are experiencing Islamophobia at the workplace
Corrosion Locations and Failure Pressure Prediction for Natural Gas Pipeline Elbows
No full textPredicting a water film distribution, assessing the burst pressure and analyzing an interaction between multiple corrosion defects of internally corroded elbows are vital for pipeline assessment. CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) models are developed to predict water film locations and their thickness in natural gas pipeline elbows. The results indicate that high inlet gas velocities and large elbow angles cause a water film to disperse, increasing its corrosion area. In up-inclined pipeline elbows, the elbow front is in the high corrosion rate zone. In down-inclined elbows, thinner films at the elbow and following straight pipe top part increase corrosion risk. A finite element (FE) model is developed to predict the burst pressure of internally corroded elbows with high accuracy and reliability. Defect size (length, depth, width), pipe diameter and elbow bending radius are considered. Increased defect depth and length significantly reduce elbow burst pressure, while defect width has a minimal effect. Corroded pipeline elbows with a smaller diameter or bending radius are more prone to burst than those with larger dimensions. A novel burst pressure prediction model for corroded pipeline elbows is proposed, and its predictions are compared with the FE simulations and several existing models. The results demonstrate that the proposed model provides more accurate predictions than other models. FE models are developed to investigate interactions among internal corrosion defects (longitudinal, circumferential, overlapping) and between internal and external defects, providing a more comprehensive analysis for a pipeline elbow’s structural integrity. In pipeline elbows, interactions of longitudinal or circumferential corrosion defects depend on spacing and defect dimensions. The interaction of longitudinal defects and its impact on the burst pressure are stronger than circumferential defects. For elbows with overlapping corrosion defects, the defect depth and length influence the burst pressure
Benefits, If Any, of a Knowledge for Contemporary Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Identified by Academic Chairs of Business Education Programs: A Case Study at a Leading Alberta Post-Secondary Institution
No full textAn emergent lens of the post-secondary context is one of increasing demands from governments, businesses, the community, and other key stakeholder groups for improvement of quality in teaching and learning and the general accountability from post-secondary institutions. At the institutional level, these demands have evolved expectations for improvements in leadership and management strategies and practices of teaching and learning, as well as student outcomes and experience. Across the post-secondary sector, there have been appeals for greater soundness, consistency, and coherence in teaching, learning, curriculum, and assessment. The research study explored and informed of the potential benefits, if any, of academic chairs in the business education program at a leading post-secondary institution in Alberta having knowledge of contemporary Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) in relation to their respective programs. The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) involved the systematic study and reflection on teaching practices and student learning to improve educational outcomes. It emphasized evidence-based approaches, fostered innovation, and enhanced the quality of teaching and learning in higher education. The study endeavored to inform post-secondary institutions of potential benefits associated with strategies for hiring, policy development, and succession planning aimed at enhancing the knowledge and backgrounds of academic chairs in relation to the contemporary SoTL. The research illuminated the importance of the susceptibility, capacity, aptitude, and propensity of academic chairs in provisioning and improving the quality of teaching and learning, thereby enhancing student learning outcomes and experiences within the post-secondary context. The sample for this study comprised seven academic chairs from a leading post-secondary institution in Alberta. Academic chairs were the focus of the case study due to their direct leadership and management responsibilities and their influence over competitive business degree, diploma and certificate programs within the school. The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership model and work of Kouzes and Posner (2017) as well as the Seven Principles of Good Practice in Undergraduate Education by Chickering and Gamson (1987) provided the foundation of this research. Data was gathered through in-depth interviews, and the data analysis procedure involved thematic categorization. The key findings that materialized emerged from the interviews and transcripts included: (1) a wide variance in the backgrounds of academic chairs, (2) a consensus among respondents that academic chairs with knowledge of contemporary SoTL are better positioned to promote teaching efficacy, (3) an indication that these chairs can foster greater faculty collaboration and the establishment of communities of practice, (4) an expressed need for professional development focused on SoTL for academic chairs, and (5) a belief that academic chairs knowledgeable in SoTL can more effectively support faculty in aligning research and professional development with SoTL principles. In this study, "academic chair background" referred to the qualifications and experiences that individuals brought to their leadership roles, including their academic credentials, teaching experience, and program administration expertise. Their involvement in curriculum development, faculty development, and educational research, including SoTL, was also considered. These findings are important and highlight the integral role that knowledge of contemporary SoTL plays in enhancing the effectiveness of academic chairs. Understanding these dynamics accentuates the necessity for targeted professional development initiatives, which can ultimately lead to improved teaching quality and better student learning outcomes in post-secondary institutions. The case study facilitated the sharing of diverse perspectives, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the research question and reinforcing the imperative for academic chairs to engage deeply with SoTL. The research advocates for institutional strategies that prioritize academic stakeholders with expertise in SoTL. By focusing on these stakeholders, institutions can noticeably enhance teaching practices and student learning outcomes. The findings are critical for making sense of the benefits, if any, for academic chairs to have knowledge of contemporary SoTL. The case study encouraged the disclosure of key findings by each respondent and their sharing of unique perspectives and experiences which, in turn, contributed to a more inclusive understanding of the research question. The findings discerned and uncovered a wide variance of backgrounds among the academic chairs. The academic chairs with a knowledge of contemporary SoTL presented a propensity and or predisposition to foster teaching effectiveness, promote scholarly activity, facilitate faculty collaboration, nurture communities of practice, and acknowledge the importance of professional development initiatives for academic chairs in SoTL. The study informed post-secondary institutions of the potential benefits of hiring, policy, development, and succession strategies that emphasize or enhance academic chairs’ knowledge and backgrounds in contemporary SoTL. The research illuminated the importance of academic chairs’ susceptibility, capacity, aptitude, and propensity to improve the quality of teaching and learning and improve learner outcomes and experiences in the post-secondary contex
Assessment of Multi-Fidelity Tools for the Aeropropulsion Analysis of a Small-Scale Supersonic Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
No full textThe flight capabilities of a supersonic aircraft is assessed using its aero-propulsive characteristics. A multi-fidelity approach is utilized to evaluate the aeropropulsive behavior of a small-scale supersonic uncrewed aerial vehicle (SSUAV). The multipurpose uncrewed fixed- wing advanced supersonic aircraft (MUFASA), which is being developed by the University of Calgary, is being studied. External aerodynamics and propulsion are studied independently for the development of SSUAVs; this approach does not always provide the best accuracy. A commercial off-the-shelf engine, the AMT Lynx engine, is studied with external aerodynamics integrated using numerical simulations and analytical relations. An analytical formulation was proposed to account for the effect of propulsion on the drag characteristics of the SSUAV. The comparison between propulsion integrated simulations and analytically corrected propulsion has shown limited deviation (<10%), providing a rapid assessment of propulsion effects
The Development of Bacterial Nanocellulose-Based Biomaterials for Biomedical Implants
No full textBacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a natural hydrogel known for its shapability and potential applicability as a biomaterial, however challenges with post-processing procedures such as drying limit its current utility. Freeze-dried BNC (FD-BNC) made by freezing wet BNC in liquid nitrogen and lyophilizing the frozen materials retains a natural porous cellulose structure. However, the mechanical properties of FD-BNC are negatively affected by the rapid freezing process, often leaving macroscopic fractures on the material. Air-dried BNC (AD-BNC), made by allowing water to evaporate from the wet BNC membranes, is mechanically strong under tension, however evaporation results in the collapse of the cellulose structure.
This thesis presents a thorough evaluation of drying methodology for BNC grown in sheets and tubes, characterizing how commonly used drying methods affect the physical and mechanical properties of the membranes. To address the shortcomings of commonly used methods, a novel drying method in which BNC sheets and tubes are gradually-frozen at a controlled rate and subsequently lyophilized is introduced. These gradually-frozen BNC (GF-BNC) membranes exhibit an aligned porous microstructure and improved mechanical properties compared to FD-BNC when applied to both BNC sheets and BNC tubes. To further examine the utility of BNC sheets as modifiable materials, gallic acid dissolved in glycerol (GG) was physically loaded into the membranes, creating GG-loaded AD-BNC (AD-GG-BNC), FD-BNC (FD-GG-BNC) and GF-BNC (GF-GG-BNC). Successful loading into FD-BNC and GF-BNC significantly increased the elasticity of the films, with GF-BNC and its GG loaded counterpart (GF-GG-BNC) achieving overall optimal mechanical properties. Antibacterial assays demonstrated the practical efficacy of GF-GG-BNC in inhibiting proliferation and biofilm formation in E. coli and S. aureus, while favorable antithrombotic behaviour prevented surface clot formation and red blood cell adhesion when compared to GF-BNC membranes. This thesis characterizes existing and novel BNC drying methods and how they affect the morphological and mechanical properties of both BNC sheets and tubes. Further, the potential for dried BNC as multi-functional material is explored by analyzing the properties of GG-loaded BNC sheets. These combined findings highlight the potential of BNC-based biomaterials as functional implants for biomedical applications