Digital Commons Network^™

Chronic Illness Education 2024: Pediatric Obesity And Its Mitigation: Patient, Community And Society, Abigail Bojanowski, Benjamin Frimodig, Mark Sprague, Michael Mason, Minie Zhang, Sruti Ramamoorthy

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Help-Seeking For College Algebra Students' Success: A Phenomenological Mixed Methods Study, Colby Lamb

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Because the failure rate for college algebra is large and sometimes up to 50%, college algebra serves as a gatekeeper to STEM fields and degree completion. Therefore, it is critical to examine students who are at risk of dropping, withdrawing, and failing college algebra help-seeking behavior. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to focus on students’ perceptions of in-classroom and out-of-classroom activities and systems in a college algebra course designed based on principles of active learning and how those activities and systems are affordances or barriers to help-seeking. The research questions to be addressed were:

Central Research Question: …

Three New Pieces For Double Bass By Colombian Composers Influenced By Colombian Traditions, Javier Alejandro Barreto Olaya

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This document presents a study on the double bass as a solo instrument within traditional Colombian music, a tradition in which it has generally been relegated to accompaniment functions. I have commissioned three original works by Colombian composers, the integration of traditional genres, including sanjuanero, caña, danza, guabina, and llanero Airs, with modern compositional approaches. The commissioned pieces expand the solo repertoire of the double bass and highlight its potential and ability to adapt to traditional musical contexts. The lack of original repertoire for solo double bass in Colombian music is also addressed, integrating the commissioned pieces. The contribution of …

Dynamics Of Flexible Freestanding Structures Under Ground Motion Excitation, Seyed Mohammadreza Farooghi Mehr

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Freestanding structures are characterized by being unattached at the base, exhibiting rigid or flexible motion under ground motion excitation with various potential responses including rocking (rotation at the base about corner points), pure sliding, slide-rocking, and overturning. While rigid freestanding structures have been extensively studied, the behavior of flexible freestanding structures—particularly the interaction between modes involving sliding—remains underexplored. Existing literature has focused on the deformation and rocking motions of flexible freestanding structures through both analytical and experimental approaches, which have shown indications of sliding at the base. These findings highlight the necessity of incorporating sliding motion into analytical models to …

Anouncements And Report On The 2024 Annual Meeting, David Cimprich

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

An Integrative, Systematic Review Of The Situational Judgment Test Literature, Sven Kepes, Sheila K. Keener, Filip Lievens, Michael A. Mcdaniel

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Situational judgment tests (SJTs) are popular assessment approaches that present scenarios describing situations that one may experience in a job. Due to its long history and cross-disciplinary nature, today’s SJT literature is quite fragmented. In this integrative review, we start by systematically taking stock and synthesizing the SJT literature from the different scientific disciplines via bibliometric techniques on 524 unique documents. We identify six literature clusters (i.e., SJTs in the medical sciences, SJTs in personnel selection, methodological issues and SJTs for specific constructs, SJTs to assess emotional intelligence and related constructs, technological advances in SJTs, SJTs for teacher assessment and …

Short-Term Personality Development And Early Career Success: Two Longitudinal Studies During The Post-Graduation Transition, Mary-Louise Hotze, Zihan Liu, Chu Chu, Erica Baranski, Kevin A. Hoff

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Objective: Investigate short-term personality development during the post-graduation transition. Background: Prior research indicates that long-term personality development matters for employment outcomes. However, this evidence is primarily limited to multi-year longitudinal studies. This research switches the focus to personality changes during a shorter, impactful life transition. Method: We examined how short-term personality development during the 14-month post-graduation transition relates to early career outcomes among two diverse samples of graduates from universities (N = 816) and community colleges (N = 567). We used latent growth curve models to examine associations between career outcomes measured 14 months after graduation with initial personality levels …

Optimization Of Long-Acting Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents In Dialysis Patients During Transitions Of Care To A Community Hospital, Ryan Falcon, Erika Dittmar, Radhan Gopalani, Stephanie Palma, Heidi Clarke, Jessica Wine, Leyner Martinez

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

Introduction: Many outpatient dialysis centers have transitioned to long-acting erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs). However, upon admission to a hospital, long-acting ESAs are often overlooked during the medication reconciliation process, leading to therapeutic duplications and increased hospital expenditures. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the financial impact of pharmacist prospective review and assessment of outpatient ESAs and appropriate scheduling during a hospital stay. Methods: This was a single-centered, prospective chart review of dialysis patients with initial ESA orders that took place in a non-profit community hospital in South Florida from January to March 2024. The pharmacist reviewed inpatient …

Brain Gray Matter Changes In Children At Risk For Sudden Unexpected Death In Epilepsy, Bhaswati Roy, Jennifer A Ogren, Luke A Allen, Beate Diehl, Raman Sankar, Samden D Lhatoo, Rajesh Kumar, Ronald M Harper

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Potential failing adult brain sites, stratified by risk, mediating Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) have been described, but are unknown in children.

Methods: We examined regional brain volumes using T1-weighted MRI images in 21 children with epilepsy at high SUDEP risk and 62 healthy children, together with SUDEP risk scores, calculated from focal seizure frequency. Gray matter tissue type was partitioned, maps normalized, smoothed, and compared between groups (SPM12; ANCOVA; covariates, age, sex, and BMI). Partial correlations between regional volumes and seizure frequency were examined (SPM12, covariates, age, sex, and BMI); 67% were at high risk for SUDEP. …

Socio-Ecological Drivers Of Anthropogenic Marine Debris Effects On Coral Reef Communities In The Florida Keys, Usa, Tokea Payton

All Dissertations

The Florida Keys reef tract has rapidly shifted from a structurally complex, hard coral-dominated reef to a less rugose, soft coral-dominated reef. Persistent anthropogenic stressors facilitate ecological transitions by including recreational and commercial fishing and increased anthropogenic marine debris. These artificial structures are becoming habitats for small marine taxa known as cryptofauna. Cryptofauna are among the most essential yet understudied reef taxa where little is known about their fate considering degrading coral reefs and increasing anthropogenic disturbance. With increased anthropogenic stressors on the marine environment, the SCUBA diving community has initiated extensive marine debris removal efforts to assist in cleaning …

Collision Hazard Prevention And Notification For Construction Worker Safety Using Audio Surveillance, Kehinde Elelu

All Dissertations

The construction industry faces significant safety challenges, with collision hazards ranking as the second highest cause of annual fatalities and injuries in the United States, as reported by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Current collision detection methods predominantly rely on proximity technologies, which necessitate costly and complex installations on each construction equipment piece. Furthermore, auditory situational awareness declines among workers due to hearing loss and intricate construction noises, which further heightens collision risks. This research introduces an innovative, low-cost, audio-based collision prevention technology aimed at enhancing auditory situational awareness for construction workers exposed to high noise levels. The …

Parental Involvement In Early Warning System Use In A Mid To Low-Poverty School, Carrie Mccain

All Dissertations

This study examines the effectiveness of an Early Warning System (EWS) originally designed for high-poverty schools and its potential impact on improving outcomes for students living in poverty but attending a mid to low-poverty school. The focus is on reducing the graduation rate disparity between economically disadvantaged students and their more affluent peers through intentional parental involvement. The research explores how structured communication between parents, teachers, and students, combined with tailored interventions in the EWS, can enhance student engagement and academic performance. Quantitative data, including attendance, behavior, and course performance, were analyzed before and after the intervention, while qualitative data …

Disability, Sense Of Belonging, And Inclusive Classroom Climates In Undergraduate Engineering, Candice W. Bolding

All Dissertations

In higher education, there has been a growing interest in identifying and addressing the systemic factors that impact the educational experiences and outcomes of underrepresented students pursuing degrees in engineering. Students who identify as having one or more disabilities are an underrepresented population in postsecondary engineering, and although this population of students possess numerous strengths that make them well suited for the field, they often face barriers and challenges that hinder their success within engineering programs. There exists a robust collection of literature examining the experiences and factors that impact other underrepresented groups within postsecondary engineering (e.g., students of color …

Tax As Hybrid Law: Borrowing And Convergences, Henry Ordower

All Faculty Scholarship

[This article argues that tax is a hybrid of civil and common law, public and private law, and is cross-disciplinary. It observes that tax law has become an all-purpose tool for legislators. It seeks to demonstrate how the U.S., a common law jurisdiction, has turned to civil law models for taxation while civil law jurisdictions and the European Union have sought common law models to combat tax avoidance. The ubiquity of tax and its public law influence on private law transactions, its cross disciplinary nature, and its deployment as a legislative tool to manage the economy make it a candidate …

Multi-Biometric Systems: A Review, Zahraa R. Naji, Abdul Monem S., Raheem Ogla

Iraqi Journal of Computers, Communications, Control and Systems Engineering

Traditional authentication methods such as passwords are susceptible to easy hacking, and as technology progresses, the demand is on the rise for more reliable and secure recognition systems, which can be used in surveillance and biometrics applications etc. A biometric recognition system of individuals is established on the unique features of the individual. Multi modal biometric systems represent a significant research field with widespread applications of recognition systems. Unimodal biometric systems have a variety of Issues, including nonuniversality and noisy data. Certain limitations and difficulties can be partially addressed with the use of multi modal biometric systems. In this paper, …

Kinship Verification Based On Intelligent Techniques: Survey, Muna Ghazi Abdulsahib

Iraqi Journal of Computers, Communications, Control and Systems Engineering

Kinship verification is the process of using observable characteristics, including facial features or other biometric data, to ascertain whether two people are familial related. Current approaches to kinship verification encounter multiple challenges, despite their significance in fields such as biometric security, family reunification, and forensic investigations. The most accurate way to confirm kinship is by DNA analysis, which is expensive, time-consuming, and invasive; in contrast, the traditional methods using manual comparison and facial recognition are more prone to human mistake. Visual verification of kinship among family members can be difficult to reliably rely on due to genetic variability, aging, and …

Blend Matters: Interactions Of Rice Cultivars On Milling, Physico-Chemical & End Use Traits, Bindu Regonda

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Rice blending or mixing of different rice cultivars, a common practice in the industry, significantly impacts processing efficiency and end-product quality, yet its effects on end products remain understudied. This research investigated the implications of blending contemporary Arkansas rice cultivars through two comprehensive studies focusing on milling yields and physicochemical properties, instantization, and parboiling processes. Five long-grain cultivars, including hybrids (RT 7521 FP, RT 7321 FP, XP 753) and purelines (Ozark, CLL 16), were blended in various combinations and different drying.

The first study revealed that blending significantly affected milling yields and physicochemical attributes. Pre-drying blending yielded better results compared …

Quantile Regression And Change Point Analysis Of Remote Patient Monitoring Data From Cardiomems Hf System, Shanshan Jia

All Dissertations

Quantile regression provides a sophisticated analytical approach for clinical data, offering deeper insights into patient variability and risk assessment than conventional regression techniques. This study delves into the mathematical underpinnings of quantile regression, highlighting its advantages over ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, particularly in the context of predicting diastolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP). We explore how this method can be applied to guide clinical interventions more effectively. By leveraging quantile regression’s ability to model different parts of the outcome distribution, we demonstrate its potential to enhance patient care through improved identification of high-risk individuals and the development of more personalized …

Neural Operator And Physics-Informed Deep Learning Approaches For Inverse Design Of Composites And Manufacturing Processes, Minglei Lu

All Dissertations

In this dissertation, artificial intelligence (AI) models are designed and used to accelerate inverse design of composites and manufacturing processes. The critical bottlenecks in machine learning (ML) including data availability, data quality, model generalization and adaptation, interpretability, physical consistency, and the ’black box’ nature of models for the inverse design are addressed. And the proposed AI models are tested under different engineering scenarios. Firstly, a fast deep neural operator (DNO) structure was developed to significantly reduce training time. This model was tested in the context of additive manufacturing, a transformative industrial technology that allows for the creation of materials with …

Advancing Visual Geometric Perception: Camera-Based Depth, Reconstruction, And Active Vision, Ziyue Feng

All Dissertations

The advancement of autonomous driving technology and intelligent robotic applications has emerged as a focal point in the realm of autonomy. One of the driving forces behind this trend is the profound understanding of the environment, and at the core of this endeavor lies the three-dimensional geometric perception. This dissertation embarks on a comprehensive exploration of this domain, emphasizing the advances of depth prediction, 3D scene reconstruction, and active vision to enhance geometric perception and scene understanding capabilities in autonomous driving, embodied AI, and robotics. In the domain of depth prediction, this research addresses the challenges of accurately inferring three-dimensional …

Genetic Testing And Anorexia Nervosa: Knowledge, Attitudes And Awareness, Sarah Ramsay

All Dissertations

This dissertation consists of three parts, each building on the results of the former, evaluating the treatment and research of anorexia nervosa (AN) from a healthcare genetics perspective. These three parts are bookended by an introduction and a conclusion summarizing key findings and providing suggestions for future work. First, in order to assess how Severe and Enduring Anorexia Nervosa (SE-AN) is defined in the literature, and inclusion of those with SE-AN in genetics research, a comprehensive literature review was performed. The review found a lack of consistent identification and inclusion of the SE-AN subtype in AN genetic study participants. Second, …

Investigating The Role Of Cd44 In Her2+ Breast Cancer Cells During Cancer Cell Redirection, Holly Caroline Jordan Campbell

All Dissertations

Despite a rise in survival rates of breast cancer patients due to advances in modern medicine, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women and is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Early detection and a more personalized treatment of breast cancer has slowly improved patient outcomes. Nevertheless, there are impediments to better patient outcomes due to the complexity of the disease physiology. Therefore, there is a demand for a comprehensive understanding of cancer development as well as a need to understand tumor progression for enhanced therapies for patients.

Previous in vivo …

Preparation And Study Of The Optical Properties Of Recycled Materials Of Polymethyl Methacryalate Doped With Different Ratios Of 4-(2- Pyridylazo) Resorcinol Monosodium Salt Hydrate, Zainab J. Sweah, Fatima H. Malk, Muhsen Chelab Muhsen, Baheya Abdulbaqi

Baghdad Science Journal

This paper presents an incoming method of developing a novel optical sensor using polymethylmethacrylate was reused with the presence of the ethanol-derived resin from Frankincense (1:1) (wt:wt%-(2-Pyridylazo) Resorcinol Monosodium Salt Hydrate) (azo dye) by solution casting technique. The prepared samples were Scanning Electron Microscopes(SEM),and studied by UV-VIS spectrophotometer for wavelengths 400-800nm, the absorbance increased; however, when it exceeded 7%, the absorbance value decreased, and the behavior was identical to that of the transmittance. The absorption coefficient and Extinction coefficient and optical energy gap at 5% is the best value. were also computed. Based on the results obtained the study was …

Lung Ct Image Segmentation Using Vgg-16 Network With Image Enhancement Based On Bounded Turning Mittag-Leffler Function, Ali M. Hasan, Mohammed Khalaf, Bayan M. Sabbar, Rabha W. Ibrahim, Hamid A. Jalab, Farid Meziane

Baghdad Science Journal

Automated segmentation of diseases considered a necessary initial step in routine diagnosis. Lung diseases that affect the lungs, such as pneumonia or lung collapse can result in areas of consolidation or atelectasis, where lung tissue becomes denser or collapses. It can be challenging to accurately segment such areas, as they may exhibit similar characteristics to adjacent structures. This study proposes a lung CT image segmentation method which includes two steps: (1) a new image enhancement model that uses the bounded turning Mittag-Leffler function to improve the CT images for better segmentation outcomes. (2) a new modified VGG-16 for infection of …

Intelligent System For Student Performance Prediction Using Machine Learning, Mustafa S. Ibrahim Alsumaidaie, Ahmed Adil Nafea, Abdulrahman Abbas Mukhlif, Ruqaiya D. Jalal, Mohammed M Al-Ani

Baghdad Science Journal

Accurately predicting student performance remains a significant challenge in the educational sector. Identifying students who need additional support early can significantly impact their academic outcomes. This study aims to develop an intelligent solution for predicting student performance using supervised machine learning algorithms. This proposed focus on addressing the limitations of existing prediction models and enhancing prediction accuracy. In this work employed three supervised machine learning algorithms: Random Forest, Extra Trees, and K-Nearest Neighbors. The steps of research methodology contained (data collection, preprocessing, feature identification, model construction, and evaluation). This paper utilized a dataset comprising 24,000 training instances and 6,000 testing …

Analysis Of The Relationship Between External Debt And Economic Growth In Iraq: An Empirical Study, Ali Fouad Saleh, Mohammed Saleh Salman Al-Kubaisi

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Purpose: Measuring and analyzing the relationship between external debt and economic growth in Iraq. Theoretical framework: The research dealt with the external debt and its impact on economic growth in Iraq. Iraq is one of the countries that suffers from the problem of external debt and its use to finance consumer spending. The research problem can be formulated as the absence of specific standards to guide financial policy in Iraq, especially the optimal size of debt and how to spend the debt in a way that achieves economic growth. Design/methodology/approach: The research relied on the deductive inference method based on …

The Role Of Bank Liquidity In Activating Investment In Iraq – An Analytical Study On The Bank Of Baghdad, Muntaha Mohammed Karim, Jasim Mohammed Mushib

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Purpose: To identify the size of cash credit granted by commercial banks and to clarify the role of banking liquidity in promoting investment in Iraq for the period (2014-2023). Theoretical Framework: The research addressed the role of banking liquidity in promoting investment for the period (2014-2023), and the problem lies in how to enhance the role of banking liquidity in stimulating investment. Design/Methodology/Approach: The researcher relied on the deductive approach and conducted a descriptive analysis using the measurement tool (E-views 12) to measure bank liquidity in enhancing bank credit. Results: The bank succeeded in adopting a strategy to expand its …

Strategic Planning For Investing In Mineral Resources In Anbar Governorate Using Swoc Analysis, Husam Firas Alkubaisy, Saja Fadhil Jawad Al-Dahlaki

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Purpose: The study aims to find the appropriate strategy to activate the role of mineral investment in achieving economic and social development in Anbar Governorate, and to identify the obstacles that prevent this through analyzing the internal and external environments that include strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges. Theoretical Framework: Mineral wealth is one of the most important natural resources in our world. Its discovery and exploitation contribute to the development, growth, and advancement of economies globally, which positively impacts various aspects of economic, social, and political life. It is noteworthy that Iraq in general, and Anbar province in particular, possess …

The Role Of Credit And Deposit Services In Enhancing The Market Value Of Stocks (The Case Of Baghdad Bank), Saja Ismaeel Najim, Yousif Aftan Abdullah, Muhammad Nauman Khan

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Purpose: Understanding and analyzing the role of certain banking operations in enhancing the value of the stocks of the banks included in the study sample, in addition to measuring the correlation between the research variables. Conceptual framework : The research examined the study of banking operations and their role in enhancing the market value of shares in the Bank of Baghdad, and in light of the competition witnessed by Iraqi commercial banks, especially in light of the great similarity in the services allowed to be provided, in compliance with the Central Bank's instructions, and the decline in the value of …

Human Capital And Economic Growth In Sub-Saharan African Countries: A Panel Data Analysis, Mohamed Sharif Bashir Elsharif, Adil Idris Ali, Ahlam Abdelhadi Hassan Elamin

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Purpose: This study examined the empirical relationship between human capital and economic growth across eight Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries from 1990 to 2022. Theoretical Framework: This study examined the relationship between human capital and economic growth by applying the Cobb-Douglas production function within the framework of the neoclassical Solow growth model. The study considers fixed assets as a measure of physical capital and school enrollment as a proxy for human capital. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study employed the pooled mean group (PMG) estimator within a panel autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach to analyze human capital variables' short- and long-run impacts on economic …