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Effect of Short-Term Home Follow-Up Visits on Readmissions of Veterans With Heart Failure
No full textHeart failure (HF) is a medical condition where the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body\u27s needs. It requires ongoing management and has the highest readmission rate among chronic conditions, resulting in a significant burden on healthcare systems and patients. This study evaluated effectiveness of the home visiting nursing service, called Hospital in Home (HIH), in preventing readmissions among veterans with HF. The HIH, a short-term nursing visiting program, was adopted by the Veterans Administration to provide multiple nursing interventions in patients’ homes in a span of 30 days. Patient records were reviewed in one hospital in the Northeast region of the United States that serves a predominantly urban population of veterans. Records of veterans who received nursing visiting services post-discharge were compared with those who received usual care, which was typically a follow-up visit with a primary care provider or a specialist
Sociological Propaganda Through an Ellulian Lens: Developments in Modern China
No full textOver half a century ago, French philosopher Jacques Ellul penned the seminal study on the phenomenon of propaganda in the modern world. Developed over fifty years ago, his taxonomy endures in the study of propaganda and is present in any serious discussion of the phenomenon. At that time, he identified “three great propaganda blocs: the USSR, China, and the United States…tha[t] represent three entirely different types and methods of propaganda.” Examined through the framework introduced by Ellul, sociological propaganda, while not part of the propaganda system present in China under Mao Zedong, was present in the American propaganda model. The thesis of this study is that a lack of mass media technology constrained the efficacy of Maoist propaganda, and now that this constraint is no longer present, China is using mass media to incorporate elements of sociological propaganda, thereby developing a new approach to propaganda in the modern era. The purpose of this study is to analyze the commercial success of Chinese cinema and the use of propaganda in that medium to develop narratives that support regime stability in the post-Mao era. The findings show how the inclusion of sociological propaganda into the Maoist model bolsters propaganda\u27s effect on increasing regime stability in contrast to the hope that the proliferation of modern media and technology would lead to political liberalization. China\u27s market reforms and its development of other characteristics of propaganda represent an evolution of the model into a distinct species from the model used under Mao or present in the American system as observed in the mid-twentieth century by Ellul
The Russo-Ukrainian Pre-War Crisis: A Comparative Test of Rational Choice, Expected Utility, Poliheuristic, and Prospect Theories to Explain the War\u27s Outbreak
Get PDFThis mixed approach study seeks to identify the most likely crisis-related decision-making strategies that President Biden, Zelensky, and Putin adopted during the Russo-Ukrainian pre-war crisis. The dissertation tests rational choice, expected utility, poliheuristic, and prospect theory frameworks against five critical decisions. The findings indicate that a Prospect Theory-based framework provides the most accurate predictions of the four models. Further, the study’s incidental finding highlights the salience of politics in decision-making, concluding that a simple lexicographic decision rule grounded in political interests accurately predicts and explains each leader’s choices more reliably and parsimoniously than the other frameworks and just as elegantly
China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Is it Really Influencing the Geopolitical Landscape?
No full textThe implication of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on geopolitics is not fully understood. References to potential Chinese geopolitical influence from the BRI have been well explored. Academics, journalists, and government officials argue that China is able to influence the foreign policy decisions of other nations through debts incurred by participation in the BRI—debt trap diplomacy. The question that needs to be answered is, does quantifiable evidence show this correlation? My research addresses this question by studying UN resolutions representing the interests of China—as a metric of geopolitical influence—and how nations participating in the BRI voted on them. My thesis is that China’s BRI-related geopolitical influence is derived from preexisting alignments in foreign policy interests with the participants, not because of its investment in those states. Quantitative analysis shows that there is no correlation between BRI investments and changes to the foreign relation stances of the participants. Case studies demonstrate how China appears to be leveraging this preexisting alignment through the BRI to promote and gain consensus for its foreign interests. While China’s foreign agenda is broad, it is focused on areas of cooperation among nations and non-interference in domestic affairs. Finally, in assessing the BRI’s geopolitical influence potential, my research used a limited data set representing the foreign policy stances of the participants—a point which is expounded upon in the counter argument that BRI-participating nations act in opposition to China’s foreign relations interests if they do not align with their own
U.S. Foreign Military Sales to Australia, Japan, and India Amidst U.S.-China Strategic Competition from the Quad’s Founding to Aukus, 2004-2021
No full textThis research examines United States Security Cooperation via Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) partners – Australia, Japan, and India – amidst the U.S.-China strategic competition. In addition to the U.S., the Quad represents two long-standing U.S. allies (Australia and Japan) and a declared Major Defense Partner (India). Through a historical study, this research begins at the Quad’s founding (December 2004), continuing to the establishment of the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the U.S., known as AUKUS – a significant milestone for U.S. arms sales in the Indo-Pacific (September 2021). This research finds that, in response to China’s expanded influence and rapid militarization, the U.S. adopted an Indo-Pacific strategy that sought increased interoperability via Security Cooperation with allies and partners, namely the Quad
Recollections of Dan Titus Class of 1994
No full textSalve Regina alumni and staff member Dan Titus shares memories of his 30+ years at Salve Regina, including his experience as a student and staff member with the Sisters who were his teachers and colleagues. Dan also talks about his path from student to administrator, including working in the library as a student, to a staff supervisor, and then moving to work for the department of information technology
Expressive arts in music education: A creative and integrative curriculum
Get PDFDespite the National Coalition for Arts Standards providing a framework for creative and integrative music education, relatively few opportunities for students to express their creativity and connect with music in their lives and culture exist due to a fixation on competitive performance. Such a disproportionate reliance on performance-based music education ignores students’ creative potential and severs their connection to more-than-human musics. Meanwhile, during a student mental health crisis, competition not only ignores the health and wellness needs of students and teachers but leads to unhealthy and unsustainable life practices causing stress and anxiety. The expressive and creative arts offer dramatic alternatives, actively engaging senses and creating embodied experiences that can foster curiosity, wellness, positive development, and social emotional learning. Anchored in poiesis, person-centered psychotherapy, intermodal arts integration, eco-consciousness, and health and wellness, this curriculum helps educators facilitate expressive and creative arts experiences in the context of standards-based music learning
Sociological Propaganda Through an Ellulian Lens: Developments in Modern China
No full textOver half a century ago, French philosopher Jacques Ellul penned the seminal study on the phenomenon of propaganda in the modern world. Developed over fifty years ago, his taxonomy endures in the study of propaganda and is present in any serious discussion of the phenomenon. At that time, he identified three great propaganda blocs: the USSR, China, and the United States…tha[t] represent three entirely different types and methods of propaganda. Examined through the framework introduced by Ellul, sociological propaganda, while not part of the propaganda system present in China under Mao Zedong, was present in the American propaganda model. The thesis of this study is that a lack of mass media technology constrained the efficacy of Maoist propaganda, and now that this constraint is no longer present, China is using mass media to incorporate elements of sociological propaganda, thereby developing a new approach to propaganda in the modern era. The purpose of this study is to analyze the commercial success of Chinese cinema and the use of propaganda in that medium to develop narratives that support regime stability in the post-Mao era. The findings show how the inclusion of sociological propaganda into the Maoist model bolsters propaganda\u27s effect on increasing regime stability in contrast to the hope that the proliferation of modern media and technology would lead to political liberalization. China\u27s market reforms and its development of other characteristics of propaganda represent an evolution of the model into a distinct species from the model used under Mao or present in the American system as observed in the mid-twentieth century by Ellul
Inquiry into the Transmutation of United States Special Operations Forces Social Kinds
No full textThe research is a trans-disciplinary inquiry into the phenomenon of transmutation of US Special Operations Forces (US SOF) social kinds within dynamic, complex social contexts. The fields of complexity, sociology, cultural anthropology, philosophy, and organizational studies offer distinct theoretical explanations for social systems and institutional behavior from which to investigate social kinds emerge and evolve. The aims of this study are to uncover ways that US SOF transmute to maintain relevance in times of rapid, persistent change and to frame a tentative theory to induce purposeful transmutation in kinds of US SOF. This study employs a phenomenological interpretative method to evaluate the lived experiences of anonymous special operators that reveal six systemic factors conforming to Anthony Gidden’s structuration theory and with Pierre Bourdieu’s habitus and field. The research explores the dynamics underpinning transmutation in SOF social kinds using two distinct contemporary case studies and an historical case study. This research concludes that to keep pace with complex social dynamics, SOF transmutation requires organizational structures designed specifically to (a) mitigate the social structuring impacts of organizational bureaucracy, (b) delegate organizational change sensors to SOF operators engaging in complex systems at the point of need, and (c) cultivate SOF executive leadership willing to question established SOF orthodoxies, overcome bureaucratic inertia, and to promote persistent organizational innovation and divestment
Provider Review: Evaluating Individual Criteria to Support Cannabis Use Disorder
No full textEvaluating Individual Criteria to Support Cannabis Use Disorder Diagnosis is an exploratory qualitative survey pilot study aimed to evaluate the current criteria for diagnosing Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) by utilizing the DSM-V (2013) criteria and current research to establish an inclusive assessment of cannabis use. The Cannabis Assessment Reliability and Validity Evaluation (CARVE) provides a single, uniform data source as a cohesive and functional tool that can assess for appropriate and inappropriate cannabis use. Study participants were limited to healthcare providers licensed to diagnose CUD. The study aimed to answer the following research questions: 1) Could inappropriate and appropriate cannabis usage be measured and differentiated? 2) Did the criteria covered in the survey provide a complete assessment of cannabis use and cannabis use disorder? Results show a generalized agreement that inappropriate and appropriate cannabis usage can be measured and differentiated. Healthcare providers also agreed that the CARVE survey provides a complete assessment of cannabis use that could be utilized to assist in diagnosing Cannabis Use Disorder. These research study findings can be potentially used to establish future diagnostic criteria, policy development, and increase quality outcomes. Keywords: cannabis use disorder, the endocannabinoid system, diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, marijuana use and abuse, cannabis education, cannabis addiction, medical marijuana, medical cannabis, recreational marijuana, recreational cannabis, NCSBN guidelines, cannabis nursin