Digital Commons Network^™

A Tool For Assessing The Effectiveness Of Speed Humps As Traffic Calming Measure, Abdulrazak Mzamiru Kachwamba, Enock W. Nshama

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Urban population growth and increasing motor vehicle usage continue to raise concerns regarding road safety in rapidly developing cities. Although previous studies have assessed traffic-calming effectiveness using multiple criteria, they have analysed the criteria separately and have not developed a composite tool for classifying overall effectiveness. This study develops a quantitative assessment tool designed to compute a weighted composite score for evaluating the effectiveness of speed humps as a traffic calming measure. Stakeholder questionnaire responses, complemented by descriptive analysis and exploratory factor analysis, were used to identify key indicators of effectiveness and the variables influencing them. Findings indicate that speed …

Artificial Neural Network-Based Modelling And Prediction Of Key Performance Indicators In Road Construction Projects, Hussein Mativila, John M. Kafuku, Beatus A. T. Kundi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Road construction projects in developing countries including Tanzania experience several challenges including cost overruns, schedule delays and poor quality. The causes of these challenges include complex interdependencies project’s uncertainty factors. This makes traditional methods for predicting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) less effective. This study has developed a robust Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model for accurate modelling and predicting KPIs for road construction projects in Tanzania. The analysis was based on data obtained from 281 projects implemented by TANROADS in 11 regions from 2015 to 2025. Fourteen uncertainty factors were measured on a five-point Likert scale and screened using Principal Component …

What Does The World Feel Like To Another Animal?, Andrew Rowan

WellBeing News

Animal sentience—the capacity to experience feelings such as pain, distress, comfort, and pleasure—is increasingly explored through scientific evidence. This article introduces the concept, considers how researchers investigate experiences animals cannot describe, and invites readers to look more closely at the many ways animals may experience the world.

Hope On Three Legs: Umka’S Journey From Ukraine To A New Beginning, Kathleen Rowan

WellBeing News

After years in a Ukrainian shelter, Umka faced a severe leg injury that ultimately required amputation. With compassionate care, rehabilitation, and cooperation among animal welfare organizations in Ukraine, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, Umka overcame his physical and emotional challenges and found a loving forever home.

Policy Brief Review: Wild Animal Welfare In Local Policies On Human-Wildlife Conflict, John Hadidian Phd

WellBeing News

A review of a 2026 policy brief examining how municipalities can incorporate wild animal welfare into policies addressing human-wildlife conflict. It highlights five key areas for action: waste management and food access, humane population management, conflict response and rehabilitation, the built environment and land use, and planning and governance.

Voltage-Related Power Quality Issues And Impacts On Distribution Networks With Sensitive Loads - A Review, Godwin Elinazi Mnkeni, Jackson Justo, Aviti Thadei Mushi, Bakari M. M. Mwinyiwiwa

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Abstract: Voltage disturbances are the most important power quality (PQ) complications that customers and power utilities face in this smart era. The growing adoption of sophisticated electronic equipment and integration of renewable energy sources (RES) into power grids has increased the susceptibility of power distribution networks (PDNs) to voltage sags, swells, interruptions, flicker, and voltage imbalance. These disturbances, mainly caused by upstream faults, switching operations, and RES integration, compromise voltage PQ and system reliability. Consequently, they accelerate equipment degradation, increase electronic waste (e-waste), raise reactive power demand, power losses, maintenance costs, and impose substantial economic losses to customers and power …

Impact Of A 3d Virtual Dissection Tool On Written And Laboratory Exam Performance In Dpt Gross Anatomy, Jorge Eduardo Sarmiento, Heather Disney

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: Higher education institutions are incorporating 3D technology, such as the Anatomage Table, to supplement cadaveric dissection in gross anatomy courses. However, research on its impact on student learning outcomes remains limited.

Methods: This quantitative study examined differences in written and laboratory exam scores among Doctor of Physical Therapy students who used the Anatomage Table versus those who received traditional instruction. Guided by the adaptable learning theory framework for technology-enhanced learning, the study analyzed archival data from a five-campus U.S. university using the Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman’s rho.

Results: Findings revealed a statistically significant difference in written exam …

Learning From Curricular Innovations In Health Professions Education: A Scoping Review, Andrew J. Notebaert Dr., Sherrill Morris, Elizabeth Sterner, Beverly W. Henry

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: It is important to learn how health professions education (HPE) programs respond to recommendations across countries and disciplines, including their preparation of students to work in health care systems, the reorganization of programmatic curricula, and strategies to overcome challenges encountered in the change process.

Methods: Following the JBI scoping review methodology, we systematically reviewed literature from 2013 to 2024. We selected articles that specifically mentioned HPE curriculum modification for pre-licensure and clinical programs to address health care system problem(s). Data extraction included: aim/purpose of the study, intervention/implementation components, curricular scope, study population, context and participants, types of data …

Ornamental Letters In J.R.R. Tolkien's Manuscripts, Eduardo Boheme Kumamoto

Journal of Tolkien Research

The purpose of this article is to examine ornamental letters and decoration that in some way interacts with letterforms in J.R.R. Tolkien’s manuscripts. I explore Tolkien’s use of elements such as double strokes, color, dots, and flourishes to add prominence and beauty to the letterforms; where possible I also try to establish a relation between these ornaments and medieval manuscripts.

Artificial Intelligence As A Tool To Enhance High-Leverage Practices In Special Education, Kanisha Porter, Viveca Grant Ed.D., Delilah A. Gonzales

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

Special education teachers face instructional, documentation, and compliance demands that often impede the fidelity of High-Leverage Practices (HLPs). While HLPs are central to promoting positive academic and behavioral growth for students with disabilities, a significant research-to-practice gap persists because educators lack the time and resources to implement these evidence-based strategies consistently within increasingly complex classrooms. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers emerging opportunities to mitigate systemic burdens by serving as a collaborative partner rather than a replacement for professional judgment. This manuscript examines AI’s potential to enhance HLP implementation across the domains of instruction, data-driven practice, collaboration, and intensive intervention. Drawing upon …

The Teaching Stem Center Online: Enhancing Instructional Methods For Underprepared Students' Success, Bassey Akpan, Jan Duncan

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

This study investigates the experiences and academic outcomes of underprepared and underrepresented undergraduate students enrolled in introductory STEM courses at Texas College, a minority‑serving institution committed to advancing equity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. The research focuses on STEM faculty across Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, and Mathematics and how the Teaching STEM Center Online (TSC) enhances instructional methods to support this student population.

Using a mixed‑methods design, the study evaluates the implementation and impact of the TSC initiative. This includes faculty development workshops, structured instructional coaching, and the integration of evidence‑based teaching practices. Quantitative data from faculty surveys …

Beyond Intent: Teacher Capacity, Opportunity To Learn, And The Persistence Of Math Equity Gaps In Tennessee (2000-2025), Soso Dede

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

For a quarter-century (2000–2025), Tennessee pursued mathematics reforms aiming for equity, yet stark racial and socioeconomic achievement gaps endure. Framed by Opportunity to Learn (OTL) and Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching (MKT), this study investigates the intersection of equity, teacher capacity, and policy. By synthesizing assessment data, program evaluations, policy documents, and research literature, this study reveals that systemic OTL inequities—disparate access to quality instruction, adequate resources, and teachers possessing strong MKT—are primary drivers of these enduring gaps. Such inequities deny marginalized students a fair chance at mathematical proficiency. The interplay between OTL and MKT is critical: inadequate OTL constrains knowledgeable …

Applications Of Nanotechnology In Building Envelopes: An Analytical Study Of Environmental Performance And Architectural Form, Essam Salah Said Abdelmagid

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Contemporary architecture has witnessed a rapid evolution in the integration of nanotechnology within the design of building envelopes, due to its significant capability to enhance the physical and environmental properties of materials and to redefine the relationship between functional performance and architectural form. The building envelope is considered one of the most influential components affecting energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality,  and visual identity, which has made it a primary field for the application of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies.

This research aims to investigate and analyze the impact of nanotechnology applications in building envelopes on both environmental performance and architectural form through …

The Impact Of Biophilic Design Patterns On Improving Thermal Comfort In Public Libraries Within Hot Arid Climates (A Case Study Of Misr Public Library - Aswan), Zainab Hassan Aljamily, Hatem Mahmoud Fathy, Breksam Hafez Elkess Boules

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Reading contributes to cognitive and cultural development, highlighting public libraries as educational and cultural spaces and emphasizing the need to improve their environmental performance. This study analyzes biophilic design patterns and thermal comfort in public libraries in hot arid climates, using Misr Public Library in Aswan as a case study. Despite growing interest in biophilic design, quantitative studies addressing its thermal impact remain limited. The research adopted an applied analytical methodology, including field measurements of temperature and relative humidity in the reading hall using a UT330TH/UT330THC data logger to verify simulation accuracy. Thermal performance was evaluated using DesignBuilder software before …

Demographic And Socioeconomic Factors Influence Perceived Community Needs And Risk Factors For Firearm Violence In Mississippi, Masoumeh Karimi, Matthew Morris, Xiaoshan Gordy, Matthew Kutcher, Leila Seidfaraji, Michelle Brassfield, Erin Dehon, Alyscia Severance, Rukia Lumumba, Fredrick Womack, Lei Zhang

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: The burden of firearm-related injuries and deaths is not borne equally across sociodemographic groups. The present study investigated the perceived needs and risk factors of firearm related injuries and mortality across gender, education, and income levels through a quantitative needs assessment completed by community members and firearm injury survivors living in the greater Jackson, Mississippi, metropolitan area.

Methods: A total of 93 participants including gunshot wound patients, survivors and community members who have been recruited through community organizations completed the needs assessment survey collecting data on demographic information, firearm exposure, substance use, community exposure to crime and …

Pilot Evaluation Of A Cross-Disciplinary Training Addressing Substance Use Among Mississippi Mothers, Saijun Zhang, Catherine Poehling, Xiaoshan Gordy, Chinedu P. Chukwu, Jerome R. Kolbo, Masoumeh Karimi, Matthew Morris, Andrew Voluse, Erin Dehon, Michelle Brassfield, Danielle Lahn, Lisa Slade, Deanna Howington, Kathleen Rhodes, Tearsenee Davis, Sonja Fuqua, Lei Zhang

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) and substance use co-occurring is often managed in siloed systems. Training IPV and related service providers on substance use topics may strengthen screening, response, and referral.

Purpose: To assess whether a pilot training program on substance use disorders (SUDs) in Mississippi improved service providers’ knowledge, preparedness, and attitudes around substance use and satisfaction with the training.

Methods: Pre–post surveys were administered to healthcare and community service providers who completed the training, assessing substance use service-related knowledge, preparedness, and attitudes.  Descriptive statistics and t-tests were used to analyze the data.

Results: Fifty-nine providers completed a …

Issues And Opportunities: Advancing Mississippi’S Response To Intimate Partner Violence, Lei Zhang, Anita Raj

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

N/A, commentary

"Excavating The Land Of Jesus: How Archaeologists Study The People Of The Gospels" [Review] / Strange, James Riley., Rodrigo Galiza

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

No abstract provided.

"A Manual For Preachers: The Journey From Text To Sermon" [Review] / Kuruvilla, Abraham., Daniel Pairo

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

No abstract provided.

"A Dream Of The Judgment Day: American Millennialism And Apocalypticism, 1620–1890" [Review] / Smith, John Howard., Kevin M. Burton

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

No abstract provided.

"Apocryphal And Esoteric Sources In The Development Of Christianity And Judaism. Texts And Studies In Eastern Christianity 21" [Review] / Igor Dorfmann-Lazarev, Ed., Rodrigo Galiza

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

No abstract provided.

"Adventist Interchurch Relations: A Study In Ecumenics" [Review] / Höschele,Stefan., Denis Fortin

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

No abstract provided.

"The Bible And Lgbtq Adventists: A Theological Conversation About Same-Sex Marriage, Gender, And Identity" [Review] / Johnston, Alicia., André Reis

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

No abstract provided.

"Food Taboos And Biblical Prohibitions: Reassessing Archaeological And Literary Perspectives. Archaeology And Bible 2" [Review] / Peter Altmann, Anna Angelini, And Abra Spiciarich, Eds., A. Rahel Wells

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

No abstract provided.

"Die Begründung Von Lebensformen Angesichts Gesellschaftlicher Pluralität Im Neuen Testament Und Heute" [Review] / Becker, Matthias. Ehe, Familie Und Agamie, Eds., René Gehring

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

No abstract provided.

Which Creed? Whose Interpretation? The Filioque As A Test Case For Theological Method, John C. Peckham

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

This article undertakes a brief assessment of competing methodological commitments relative to the dispute over the filioque clause in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. In doing so, this article highlights how the filioque dispute exposes crucial methodological questions about the authority of tradition in relation to the authority of Scripture and the viability of employing creeds as methodologically normative in the doing of theology, especially relative to questions like: Which tradition? Which creed(s)? Which version of the selected creed(s)? Whose interpretation? Which doctrinal commitments? Using the filioque dispute as a test case, this article concludes that the many difficulties faced relative to …

The Divinity Of Christ In The Adventist Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly From 1888 To 1931, Sungjin Kim

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

Christology in the Christian church in AD 451. Nonetheless, the debate concerning the divinity of Christ has been repeated within many denominations, resulting in each denomination developing its own Christology. This article explores the development of the Seventh-day Adventist understanding of the divinity of Christ by diachronically examining the Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly (SSLQ). The SSLQ is a valuable resource because it is essentially written as a textbook for church members. The shifting descriptions of Christ’s divinity throughout the history of the periodical demonstrate the evolution of the denomination’s understanding of this subject. Although there are many ways to speak …

Elisha The Steward: A Literary Examination Of Elisha’S Prophetic Ministry, Lee Hagewood

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

This article examines the characterization of Elisha in Kings by considering the narrative’s presentation of how he attends to the people and tasks entrusted to him; an aspect of his characterization that I refer to as “stewardship.” This literary examination proceeds by examining Elisha’s call, his ministry within the Israelite community, and his ministry as it relates to the geopolitical conditions depicted in the narrative. Evaluating Elisha’s stewardship within the Israelite community involves an investigation of his interactions with both the Shunammite woman and the “sons of the prophets.” A similar evaluation of his geopolitical ministry investigates his response to …

Reconsidering Nebuchadnezzar’S Seven-Year Madness: The Lycanthropy Theory And Its Historical Potential In Daniel 4, Fabián Ubilla

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

The account in Daniel 4, in which it is said that King Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind and lived as a beast for seven years, lacks corroboration in cuneiform documents. There are consequently several theories that attempt to explain the meaning of this story. One of them is the theory of lycanthropy, which suggests that the mental ailment of the king was due to a strange disease. This theory has largely been abandoned because other theories are better supported by ancient documents. However, the present study proposes a reconsideration of the lycanthropy theory for two main reasons. The first is that, …

Editorial Vol 61.1, Martin F. Hanna, Oliver M. Glanz

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

No abstract provided.