Digital Commons Network^™

Is The Influence Of Oil Shocks On Economic Policy Uncertainty Fading?, Bahram Adrangi, Arjun Chatrath, Debasish Maitra, Anirban Sengupta

American Business Review

Anecdotal evidence indicates that the influence of crude oil shocks on US economic performance and, by extension, economic policy uncertainty is in decline. While existing studies present mixed evidence on the relationship between economic policy uncertainty and structural oil shocks, they fail to assess any time variation in this relationship. We examine the temporal nature of the influence of three structural oil shocks, oil supply shocks, global aggregate demand shocks, and shocks due to oil market-specific demand, on categorical economic policy uncertainty indexes from 1986 to 2023. We find that out of three oil shocks, only oil market-specific demand shocks …

Montana's Trail To The Stars: Understanding Stargazing In Eastern Montana And Beyond, Carter Bermingham, Ava Worbets, Melissa Weddell

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

Night sky recreation is an emerging yet relatively unexplored segment of the tourism industry within Montana. Despite being home to some of the darkest skies in the nation, little is known about those who choose to stargaze in Montana. This study was designed to gather insights from previous visitors to Montana to better understand night sky recreation in the state and how visitors perceive Montana’s night skies. Part of the research purpose also was to provide information on respondents who visited a site along Montana’s Trail to the Stars, a collaborative effort between Southeast Montana, Central Montana, and the Missouri …

Health Outcomes In Children With Prenatal Opioid Exposure With And Without Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome In The First Seven Years Of Life: An Observational Cohort Study, Joshua Lambert, Sara Arter, Henry Ofori Duah, Teenu Xavier, Jon E. Sprague

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction Prenatal opioid exposure (POE) is a major public health consequence of the opioid epidemic. Long-term health outcomes associated with POE remain unclear, especially for children with POE without a diagnosis of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Here, we aimed to describe the health outcomes of children with POE and with POE and NAS compared to unexposed children during the first 7 years of life. Design In this retrospective observational cohort study, children born between 2015 and 2022 were identified from the Maternal and Infant Data Hub (MIDH), a data repository that continuously integrates maternal, neonatal, and pediatric records from two …

Connecting Compassion: Empathy's Role In Stem And Literacy Integration, Leah R. Cheek, Vinson Carter, Michael K. Daugherty, Christian Goering

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications and Presentations

Empathy, an unsung, yet critical element of learning, can be strategically interlaced with literacy instruction and engineering design to create a rich and authentic learning experience for students. Integrated STEM education rests on the promise of engaging students and providing deep understandings through the intentional practice of delivering science and math content through the application of technology and engineering skills. Using children's literature to activate empathy and design thinking can help students become better problem-solvers, critical thinkers, and caring members of society. Empathy facilitates a deeper connection to the human experience, ensuring that solutions not only meet the design requirements, …

Impact Of Diabetes Self-Management Education On Hemoglobin A1c Levels In The Rural Patient Population, Barbara Adomakomensah Sarpong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The global prevalence of type 2 diabetes is one of the greatest health threats in society, especially in the rural population. Rural healthcare data analysis has proved a need for type 2 diabetes control education. Despite the existence of helpful diabetes control interventions, rural diabetes patients still struggle to maintain healthy behaviors, with about 60% of the patients recording hemoglobin A1c levels above 9. Many suffer severe conditions (e.g., stroke, kidney failure, and heart attacks) because of poor management of the condition. The project examined the impact of diabetes self-management education on hemoglobin A1c levels in the rural patient population. …

Multiple Negative Impacts Of Marine Plastic Pollution On Tropical Coastal Ecosystem Services, And Human Health And Well-Being, Carya Maharja, Radisti A. Praptiwi, Sainal Sainal, Prawesti Wulandari, Matthew Ashley, Kayleigh Wyles, Joyashree Roy, I Gede Hendrawan, Susan Jobling, Melanie Austen

School of Psychology

There is limited empirical evidence showing the impacts of marine plastic pollution on ecosystem services or on human health and well-being in Global South countries. We aimed to estimate these impacts in the tropical archipelago of Indonesia, one of the top emitters of marine plastics globally, through an iterative Delphi survey, with an expert panel (n = 42) consisting of equal numbers of Indonesian scientists, policymakers, and practitioners. After two rounds of the survey, the analysis of interquartile ranges indicated that the experts reached a consensus in their predictions. The experts agreed that, over the next 10 years, plastics would …

Conceptions Of Latinos And Latinas About The Grieving Process And Associate Concepts Of Dying, Death, Bereavement, And Loss: A Covid-19-Post-Pandemic Case Study, Rosario Garcia Ortiz

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to recognize the grieving process and the related concepts of Latinos who lost a loved one to the COVID-19 pandemic. Death and dying have been studied in the United States, with limited studies focusing on the Latino culture. The COVID-19 pandemic was a devastating experience for the world and continues to be studied for understanding and lessons in the aftermath. This research included four participants from the Latino culture who lost a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic. An inductive approach and data analysis were used to form theoretical constructs. Three main categories were …

Assessing The Spatiotemporal Variability Of Aerosol Optical Depth And Particle Sizes In The Uae Atmosphere Using Remotely Sensed Data, Bashayer Ali Alzahmi

Theses

This thesis investigates atmospheric aerosol concentrations, with a particular focus on the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study maps the spatial and temporal variations in Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and characterizes aerosols using high-resolution Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) products. The primary objective of this research is to enhance the understanding of aerosol dynamics in the UAE by distinguishing between natural and anthropogenic aerosols through the Angström Exponent (AE) and assessing their impacts on local climate, air quality, and public health. The study employs Remote Sensing (RS) techniques to conduct detailed environmental assessments, analyzing AOD variability across daily, monthly, seasonal, …

Fulfilling The Promise Of Breathomics: Considerations For The Discovery And Validation Of Exhaled Volatile Biomarkers, Paul Brinkman, Michael Wilde, Waqar Ahmed, Ran Wang, Marc Van Der Schee, Shahd Abuhelal, Chad Schaber, Danen Cunoosamy, Graham W Clarke, Anke H Maitland-Van Der Zee, Sven-Erik Dahlén, Salman Siddiqui, Stephen J Fowler

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The exhaled breath represents an ideal matrix for non-invasive biomarker discovery, and exhaled metabolomics have the potential to be clinically useful in the era of precision medicine. In this concise translational review we will specifically address volatile organic compounds in the breath, with a view towards fulfilling the promise of these as actionable biomarkers, in particular for lung diseases. We review the literature paying attention to seminal work linked to key milestones in breath research; discuss potential applications for breath biomarkers across disease areas and healthcare systems, including the perspectives of industry; and outline critical aspects of study design that …

Championing Food Studies Within The Field Of Irish Studies: A Serendipitous Autoethnographic Journey, Mairtin Macconiomaire

Doctoral

Food permeates every aspect of life and society, from birth to death—from the new-born’s first suckle to the food traditions associated with Irish wakes and funerals. Essential for survival, it has historically proven academically elusive, hidden in plain sight. Entangled with the domestic and the feminine, it was traditionally regarded as too mundane and too quotidian for consideration. Depending on how you define it, Irish Studies has somewhere between 50 and 100 years of history as an academic discipline. Food Studies is a more recent academic phenomenon, which has been steadily growing internationally since last decade of the twentieth century. …

Human Capital Development : Bridging The Skills Gap In The Maritime Administration Of Namibia, Agnes Matheus

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Understanding Cybersecurity Perception In The Maritime Sector Of Nigeria : A Comparative Analysis, Lawal Mohammed Abdulrasaq

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Role Of Ocean Literacy In Fostering Sustainable Practices And Conservation In Kenya : Secondary School Teachers’ Perspectives, Victoria Mere Tuva

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Network Effects Of International Crypto And Dlt Regulation, Hadar Y. Jabotinsky

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

No abstract provided.

Threshold Changes In Winter Temperature And Precipitation Drive Threshold Responses Across Nine Global Climate Zones And Associated Biomes, Alexandra R. Contosta, Kyle A. Arndt, Helen M. Baulch, Nora J. Casson, Adrian Harpold, Toni Lyn Morelli, Alexej P.K. Sirén

Faculty Publications

Globally, winter temperatures are rising, and snowpack is shrinking or disappearing entirely. Despite previous research and published literature reviews, it remains unknown whether biomes across the globe will cross important thresholds in winter temperature and precipitation that will lead to significant ecological changes. Here, we combine the widely used Köppen–Geiger climate classification system with worst-case-scenario projected changes in global monthly temperature and precipitation to illustrate how multiple climatic zones across Earth may experience shifting winter conditions by the end of this century. We then examine how these shifts may affect ecosystems within corresponding biomes. Our analysis demonstrates potential widespread losses …

A Model Of Insolvency Resolution: When Is Bankruptcy Inefficient?, Rajesh Kumar Acha, Sumit Sarkar, Apratim Guha, Kanagaraj Ayyalusamy

American Business Review

Information asymmetry about a firm's value has been identified in the literature as an obstacle in restructuring the debt of an insolvent firm. We explore the possibility of a restructuring under complete and symmetric information between a firm and its creditors in a creditor-friendly bankruptcy regime. Using a model, we determine the feasibility conditions for restructuring. Our results show that restructuring the firm's debts may not be possible even if it is known to the creditors that the firm's value under the present management is higher than that under a bankruptcy sale. The firm's value under restructuring must also be …

Student Satisfaction And University Enrollments: Does The Urban Or Regional Status Of Australian Higher Education Institutions Matter?, Kumar Biswas, Sudipta Bose, Syed Shams, Chris Dann, Alice Brown

American Business Review

In the aftermath of World War II, Western nations witnessed unprecedented growth in university enrollments, particularly in business schools, driven by the expansion of the publicly funded higher education system. This growth has prompted higher education providers to re-evaluate the critical role of student satisfaction in shaping learning, engagement, and overall institutional success. While the impact of student satisfaction on engagement and academic outcomes is well documented, its influence on broader university enrollments remains underexplored. Using longitudinal data from the Australian Government-funded Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) surveys and universities’ annual reports (2012-2017), we find that universities with …

Investigating Social-Ecological Linkages In Baltimore, Md: Environmental Stewardship, Green Stormwater Infrastructure, And Tree Canopy Change At The Neighborhood Level, Sarah Ponte, Nancy F. Sonti, Dexter H. Locke, Jennifer Mullinax, Mitchell Pavao-Zuckerman

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Environmental stewardship organizations in Baltimore play important roles in taking care of the local environment through conservation, management, restoration, monitoring, education, and other efforts. These diverse activities were captured in Baltimore’s Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project (STEW-MAP) surveys in 2011 and 2019. Despite previous research, knowledge gaps remain about the spatial and temporal dynamics of environmental stewardship groups and their relationships with elements of the built environment, such as green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) and tree canopy cover. Using spatial Bayesian regression, we examine how 1) voluntary GSI, 2) regulatory GSI, 3) tree canopy cover, and 4) tree canopy cover change …

The Effects Of Wildfires On The Mental And Physical Health Of School-Age Children In North America: A Scoping Review, Sarah Oerther, Sarah Manspeaker, Alison Wix, Daniel Oerther, Carmen Marsit

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Background: Wildfires are occurring more often and with greater intensity, leading to longer and harsher fire seasons. As a result, children are more frequently exposed to wildfire smoke, which increases their risk of mental and physical health effects. Purpose: The purpose of our scoping review is to explore the current literature on what is known about the direct and indirect impacts of wildfires on the mental and physical health of school-age children in North America (5 to 18-year-olds). Methods: A health sciences librarian-assisted literature search, with input from the research team, was performed. Results: A total of 16 studies were …

Media Use, Interpersonal Communication, And Personal Relevance As External And Internal Representations Of Climate Change, Sonny Rosenthal, Pengya Ai

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Personal relevance is a key driver of individual climate action. It is also related to media use and interpersonal communication, which the current study examines from two perspectives. First, individuals may find climate change personally relevant because they experience it vicariously through the media and other information sources. Second, they may engage with climate change information because the issue is personally relevant. This study tested these models using structural equation modeling of online survey data from representative samples in Singapore (n = 1,997) and the United States (n = 2,009). Findings supported both models, albeit the first one more strongly. …

Human Sensors In The City Of Super Apps: Mobilizing People As Infrastructure For Smart City Development In Jakarta, Indonesia, Prerona Das, Orlando Woods, Lily Kong

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

In this paper, we argue that contextual factors such as availability of infrastructure, socio-cultural characteristics of users, governance style, and the regulatory environment in global south cities creates opportunities for public and private sector actors to come up with innovative strategies to smart city development and the platformization of services. Despite different objectives, operationalization strategies, and expected outcomes between the public and private sectors, both sectors learn from one another to come up with innovative solutions for navigating contextual contingencies. Due to limited infrastructure and contextual diversities in global south cities, digital platforms require significant and specific forms of groundwork …

Malignant Transformation And Tumour Recurrence In Sacrococcygeal Teratoma: A Global, Retrospective Cohort Study., Lieke J. Van Heurn, Joep P M Derikx, Nigel Hall, Jennifer H. Aldrink, Maria M. Bailez, Lohfa B. Chirdan, Shigehisa Fumino, Afua Hesse, Tuktu Soyer, Shawn D. St Peter, Jos Twisk, Tianyou Yang, Ernst L W Van Heurn, Sct-Study Consortium

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

INTRODUCTION: Sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) is a rare congenital tumour. The risk of malignancy and recurrence are not well defined. Previous studies are small and report differing conclusions about the timing of surgery and the duration of follow-up. We studied the risk of malignant transformation and SCT recurrence after surgery to address these gaps.

METHODS: This was a global retrospective cohort study. Data of consecutive SCT patients was obtained from 145 institutes in 62 countries. Malignant transformation, defined as malignancy at initial resection, malignant recurrence or death due to malignancy, and its risk factors were analysed.

RESULTS: Of the 3612 included …

Toward A Responsible Future: Recommendations For Ai-Enabled Clinical Decision Support, Steven Labkoff, Bilikis Oladimeji, Joseph Kannry, Anthony Solomonides, Russell Leftwich, Eileen Koski, Amanda L Joseph, Monica Lopez-Gonzalez, Lee A Fleisher, Kimberly Nolen, Sayon Dutta, Deborah R Levy, Amy Price, Paul J Barr, Jonathan D Hron, Baihan Lin, Gyana Srivastava, Nuria Pastor, Unai Sanchez Luque, Tien Thi Thuy Bui, Reva Singh, Tayler Williams, Mark G Weiner, Tristan Naumann, Dean F Sittig, Gretchen Purcell Jackson, Yuri Quintana

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare settings has the potential to benefit clinical decision-making. Addressing challenges such as ensuring trustworthiness, mitigating bias, and maintaining safety is paramount. The lack of established methodologies for pre- and post-deployment evaluation of AI tools regarding crucial attributes such as transparency, performance monitoring, and adverse event reporting makes this situation challenging.

OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to make practical suggestions for creating methods, rules, and guidelines to ensure that the development, testing, supervision, and use of AI in clinical decision support (CDS) systems are done well and safely for patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In May …

Applying Neutrosophic Natural Language Processing To Analyze Complex Phenomena In Interdisciplinary Contexts, Diego Fernando Coka Flores, Ignacio Fernando Barcos Arias, María Elena Infante Miranda, Omar Mar Cornelio

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

The paper addresses the challenge of integrating natural language processing (NLP) with neutrosophic logic to solve problems where uncertainty, ambiguity, and indeterminacy play a critical role. This approach becomes particularly relevant in an increasingly digitalized world, where human-machine interaction requires a deeper understanding of linguistic and contextual nuances. Despite advances in conventional NLP, many existing methodologies lack tools to effectively manage undefined or contradictory elements present in real data. In this context, neutrosophic logic offers an innovative framework to model and analyze complex and multifaceted human perceptions. The study applies a methodology that combines advanced NLP techniques with neutrosophic analytical …

Plithogenic Hypothesis On The Influence Of Electronic Com-Merce On Retail Sales Dynamics In Shopping Centers, Rosa Maria Criollo Delgado, Julio Cesar Vidal Rischmoller, Eluard Alexander Mendoza Zenozain

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

The present research addresses the growing argument on the ways in which e-commerce is changing dynamics in shopping centers by offering a plitogenic hypothesis that looks into the intricacies between the two worlds. The present research goes into duality of these selling environments and their coexistence in a backdrop of chal-lenging traditional models of buying which digital platforms are. Despite the rich literature on electronic com-merce and retail, most of the studies have isolated perspectives on the subject, avoiding interrelations that properly emerge from online commerce and physical shopping centers. The study attempts to fill that theoreti-cal gap by applying …

Finding Purpose In Higher Education: Insights From The Distinctive Career Of Professor Rajani Naidoo, Howard Thomas

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The author explores Professor Rajani Naidoo’s inspiring journey in higher education, marked by advocacy, leadership, and a commitment to social justice. Born in apartheid South Africa, Rajani’s formative experiences with inequality shaped her lifelong dedication to equity in education. Her academic path took her to the University of Bath, where she directed the International Centre for Higher Education Management, emphasising interdisciplinary research and ethical leadership. Now Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Exeter, she drives cultural change and inclusivity. Rajani’s work challenges competitive norms, advocates global collaboration, and envisions universities as agents of societal good. Her story exemplifies purpose-driven academic …

Investigating The Impacts Of Homestay Tourism On A Local Community: Homestay Operators' Perspectives In Anantnag District, Sajad Ahmad Bhat, Ajaz Ahmad Dar, Dr Danish Iqbal Raina, Dr Basith Nabi Wani

Journal of Tourism Insights

Background: Homestay tourism, characterized by travelers residing in the homes of local residents, offers an intimate and authentic experience that fosters cultural exchange. This paper explores the impacts of homestay tourism on a local community, focusing on the Anantnag District in the Kashmir Valley. Drawing upon the insights of homestay operators, this research investigates the economic, sociocultural, and environmental dimensions of this tourism phenomenon.

Objective: To investigate the economic, sociocultural, and environmental implications of homestays on a local community and to determine differences in how the neighborhood perceives these impacts.

Methods: This study uses a quantitative research design, including a …

Reimagining Tourism And Rail Industry:Trends And Outlook In The Post-Pandemic Era, Anju Chandran, Dr. Kalarani T G

Journal of Tourism Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption to the global tourism and travel industry, with widespread travel restrictions, border closures, and lockdown measures impacting every aspect of the sector. Both the tourism and travel industry are expected to slowly recover but the post-pandemic landscape is likely to look quite different, with shifting travel patterns, changing consumer preferences, and new health and safety protocols. The Indian Railways, a crucial public utility, has persevered in these difficult times by beaming vividly as a symbol of optimism and community devotion despite all of this turmoil. India's vast and complex railway network shows a …

Exploring The Dynamics Of Rural Tourism In Jammu And Kashmir: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach To Understanding Socio-Economic Impacts, Sajad Ahmad Bhat, Dr Danish Iqbal Raina, Ajaz Ahmad Dar, Muhammad Arsalan Wani

Journal of Tourism Insights

Background: Rural tourism has emerged as a critical component of sustainable development in regions like Jammu and Kashmir, where it holds the potential to significantly impact the local socio-economic fabric. This study investigates the intricate relationships between tourist experiences, their perceptions of local culture and environment, and the resultant socio-economic impacts on the local community.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to explore how tourist experiences influence their perceptions and, subsequently, the social and economic impacts on local communities in rural tourism settings. Additionally, the study aimed to identify the existing challenges in rural tourism and the opportunities …

Tourist Expectation And Their Perception Towards Service Quality : The Case Of Baidyanath Dham Jyotirlinga, Deoghar, Vaishali Singh, Anjan Bhuyan

Journal of Tourism Insights

The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions and expectations of tourists regarding the Service Quality attributes at Baidyanath Dham Jyotirlinga in Deoghar, Jharkhand. The aim is to identify the significant areas of shortcomings in the tourist amenities/services offered at the pilgrimage site and suggest ways to improve the overall pilgrimage experience. The study used the scale development procedures provided by Churchill (1979) and Hinkin (1995) as the initial step in developing a service quality scale. First, a thorough literature analysis highlighted six crucial factors: accommodation, information accessibility, transportation, safety and security, hygienic food and drink, and temple …