Digital Commons Network^™

Unravelling The Missing Link: Climate Risk, Esg Performance And Debt Capital Cost In China, Yu Yan, Xinman Cheng, Tricia Ong

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The concept of sustainability has developed significantly from an unrealistic abstract ideology to a framework that can measure companies’ environment, society and corporate governance (ESG) performance. While extensive research has established some relational impacts of ESG performance on debt capital cost (DCC), this paper contends that a comprehensive review of these impacts is incomplete without screening them through the lens of climate risk (CR). Companies are subjected to CR that comprises physical and transition factors resulting from climate change. This paper aims to unravel the missing link between CR and ESG performance, and the consequent impacts on DCC. This paper …

Muscle Mitochondrial Function Is Impaired In Adults With Type 1 Diabetes, Daniel Gottlieb, Layla A Abushamat, Kristen J Nadeau, Judith G Regensteiner, Jane E B Reusch, Kalie L Tommerdahl, John Rice, Leslie A Knaub, Cynthia M F Monaco, Thomas J Hawke, Christopher G R Perry, Melanie G Cree, Irene E Schauer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Aims: Type 1 diabetes has been associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. However, the mechanism of this dysfunction in adults remains unclear.

Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted using data from several clinical trials measuring in-vivo and ex-vivo mitochondrial function in adults with type 1 diabetes (n = 34, age 38.8 ± 14.6 years) and similarly aged controls (n = 59, age 44.6 ± 13.9 years). In-vivo mitochondrial function was assessed before, during, and after isometric exercise with 31phosphorous magnetic resonance spectroscopy. High resolution respirometry of vastus lateralis muscle tissue was used to assess ex-vivo measures.

Results: In-vivo data showed higher rates …

Upscaling Relative Permeability And Capillary Pressure From Digital Core Analysis In Otway Formation: Considering The Order And Size Effects Of Facies, Masoud Aslannezhad, Mohammad Sayyafzadeh, David Tang, Zhenjiang You, Stefan Iglauer, Alireza Keshavarz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Digital Core Analysis (DCA) has emerged as a crucial instrument in reservoir characterization in recent times. With the advent of high-resolution micro-CT imaging, it is now possible to visualize the three-dimensional microstructures of in-situ pores and flow patterns within rocks. DCA offers several notable benefits over traditional techniques, such as a higher density of measurements, faster processing times, and the preservation of rock samples. It also demonstrates considerable flexibility with challenging core conditions and can derive numerous parameters from each individual sample. The objective of this work is to utilise DCA data from Otway formation to enhance reservoir characterisation and …

An Assessment Of Latrine Front-End Characteristics And Associated Surface E. Coli Indicated Faecal Contamination In Rural Fiji, Sabita Adhikari, Shylett Anthony, Ponipate Baleinamau, Jeremaia Coriakula, Thompson Daurewa, Rachel Devi, Sikeli Gavidi, Pierre Horwitz, Erin C. Hunter, Aaron Jenkins, Stacy Jupiter, Maria Lalamacuata, Kinikoto Mailautoka, Sangeeta Mangubhai, Kelera Naivalu, Timoci Naivalulevu, Vilisi Naivalulevu, Nabeela Nasim, Sikeli Naucunivanua, Joel Negin, Paul Van Nimwegen, Anaseini Ratu, Mereia Ravoka, Andrew Tukana, Jack Van De Vossenberg, Donald Wilson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In Fiji, 90% of the population has access to basic sanitation; however, there are still persistent health risks from endemic faecal-oral diseases such as typhoid fever. There is a need to assess the contribution of existing sanitation facilities in the faecal pathogen transmission pathway. This study was conducted as part of a larger planetary health study across 29 rural communities within five river catchments. This specific research aimed to characterise latrine front-ends, both infrastructure and usage behaviour, and to assess the faecal contamination levels on various frequently contacted latrine surfaces in rural Fiji. A sanitation survey, along with observation and …

Global Management Of Serious Bacterial Infections In Young Infants Aged 0 To 59 Days: An Overview Of Systematic Reviews, Karen M. Edmond, Georgia R. Whisson, Derek C. Swe, Natalie A. Strobel

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

BACKGROUND: To inform World Health Organization guidelines for the management of serious bacterial infection (SBI) (suspected or confirmed sepsis, pneumonia, or meningitis) in infants aged 0–59 days. OBJECTIVE: To conduct an “overview of systematic reviews” to: (1) understand which systematic reviews have examined diagnosis and management of SBI in infants aged 0–59 days in the last 5 years; and (2) assess if the reviews examined PICOs (population, intervention, comparator, outcomes) and regimens currently being recommended in low and middle income countries (LMICs) by the World Health Organization. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE; Embase; Cochrane Library; Epistemonikos; PROSPERO. STUDY SELECTION: Systematic reviews of …

In-Situ Micro-Ct Analysis Of Deformation Behavior In Sandwich-Structured Meta-Stable Beta Ti−35nb Alloy, Yu Jing Lui, Zi Lin Zhang, Jin Cheng Wang, Xiang Wu, Xiao Chun Liu, Wei Ying Huang, Lai Chang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Beta Ti−35Nb sandwich-structured composites with various reinforcing layers were designed and produced using additive manufacturing (AM) to achieve a balance between light weight and high strength. The impact of reinforcing layers on the compressive deformation behavior of porous composites was investigated through micro- computed tomography (Micro-CT) and finite element method (FEM) analyses. The results indicate that the addition of reinforcement layers to sandwich structures can significantly enhance the compressive yield strength and energy absorption capacity of porous metal structures; Micro-CT in-situ observation shows that the strain of the porous structure without the reinforcing layer is concentrated in the middle region, …

Positive Association Between Patients’ Perception Of Chronic Pain Rehabilitation As A Personally Meaningful Experience And The Flourishing Aspect Of Well-Being, Katrina J. Liddiard, Cary A. Brown, Annette J. Raynor

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Chronic pain rehabilitation helps to reduce pain and restore valued life roles. Patients may have more positive outcomes when they perceive rehabilitation to be personally meaningful. This study examined associations between self-reported, personally meaningful rehabilitation and well-being. A pilot study was conducted using an online survey of people with chronic pain and experiences of rehabilitation. The PROMIS Pain Interference Short Form 8a and The Flourishing Scale were used to explore well-being. A modified self-report measure, the Meaningfulness in Rehabilitation Scale, was pilot-tested for construct validity and used in the survey. Of the 48 participants (81% female; 19% male), most attended …

Protocol For The Development And Initial Validation Of The Cog-Impact Tool: A Purpose-Built Unmet Needs Assessment For Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment, Darren Haywood, Moira O’Connor, Frank D. Baughman, Alexandre Chan, Raymond J. Chan, Evan Dauer, Haryana M. Dhillon, Ashley M. Henneghan, Blake J. Lawrence, Maryam Lustberg, Janette L. Vardy, Susan L. Rossell, Nicolas H. Hart

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

(1) Background: A significant proportion of cancer survivors report experiencing a cognitive ‘fog’ that affects their ability to think coherently and quickly, and reason with clarity. This has been referred to as cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). CRCI has extensive impacts on the daily lives of people living with or beyond cancer, including occupational, social, and psychological functioning. Oncology health professionals report feeling under-resourced to effectively assess the needs of an individual with CRCI and then provide optimal care and referral. (2) Methods: The objective of this project is to develop and provide an initial validation of the first purpose-built unmet …

Slurry Infiltrated Low-Quality Construction And Demolition Coarse Aggregate Waste In Concrete - A Sustainable Construction, Vishnu Vijayan, Sanjay Kumar Shukla, K. M. Mini

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Exponential growth in infrastructure projects, stimulated by emerging sophisticated technologies have been instrumental in the salutary proliferation of the construction sector, globally. An indubitable adversity of the rapid boom in the construction industry has been the rampant cumulative fallout of burgeoning waste during the demolition and construction phases of restoration. The current study explored the propriety of replacing natural coarse aggregate by low-quality recycled coarse aggregates (RCA) with varying proportions, along with silica fume (SF) and polypropylene (PP) fibers as admixtures, for the preparation of concrete. As the quality of RCA is determined by the history of its parent demolished …

Peptidomics Analysis Of In Vitro Digested Wheat Breads: Effect Of Genotype And Environment On Protein Digestibility And Release Of Celiac Disease And Wheat Allergy Related Epitopes, Mélanie Lavoignat, Angéla Juhász, Utpal Bose, Thierry Sayd, Christophe Chambon, Miguel Ribeiro, Gilberto Igrejas, Sébastien Déjean, Catherine Ravel, Emmanuelle Bancel

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Wheat proteins can trigger immunogenic reactions due to their resistance to digestion and immunostimulatory epitopes. Here, we investigated the peptidomic map of partially digested bread samples and the fingerprint of epitope diversity from 16 wheat genotypes grown in two environmental conditions. Flour protein content and composition were characterized; gastric and jejunal peptides were quantified using LC-MS/MS, and genotypes were classified into high or low bread protein digestibility. Differences in flour protein content and peptide composition distinguish high from low digestibility genotypes in both growing environments. No common peptide signature was found between high- and low-digestible genotypes; however, the celiac or …

Adopting A Systems-Thinking Approach To Optimise Dietary And Exercise Referral Practices For Cancer Survivors, Ria Joseph, Nicolas H. Hart, Natalie Bradford, Fiona Crawford-Williams, Matthew P. Wallen, Reegan Knowles, Chad Y. Han, Vivienne Milch, Justin J. Holland, Raymond J. Chan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Service referrals are required for cancer survivors to access specialist dietary and exercise support. Many system-level factors influence referral practices within the healthcare system. Hence, the aim of this study was to identify system-level factors and their interconnectedness, as well as strategies for optimising dietary and exercise referral practices in Australia. Methods: A full-day workshop involving national multidisciplinary key stakeholders explored system-level factors impacting dietary and exercise referral practices. Facilitated group discussions using the nominal group technique identified barriers and facilitators to referral practices based on the six World Health Organisation (WHO) building blocks. The systems-thinking approach generated six …

Blood, Sweat, And Tears: Implications For Hydration Testing In Combat Sports—Investigating Body Mass Loss And Biomarker Changes, Colin S. Doherty, Lauren V. Fortington, Oliver R. Barley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Combat sports athletes often undergo rapid body mass loss (BML), which presents health risks. Hydration testing has been proposed as a possible solution to reduce or eliminate rapid BML. However, combat sports athletes may exhibit distinct physiological characteristics due to repeated exposure to BML. Thus, traditional and emerging hydration biomarkers should be investigated to determine their potential suitability for field use in this cohort. This study examined whether BML can explain changes in serum and urine osmolality (SosmΔ, UosmΔ), tear osmolarity (TosmΔ), hematocrit (HctΔ), and urine-specific gravity (USGΔ) after mild–moderate passive dehydration. Biomarker reliability was also assessed across two trials. …

Phthalocyanine-Enabled Technologies For Water Treatment And Disinfection Strategies, Hooralain Bushnaq, Catherine Munro, Sisi Pu, Amir Razmjou, Masoumeh Zargar, Giovanni Palmisano, Srinivas Mettu, Ludovic F. Dumée

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Water treatment and disinfection are critical factors in ensuring a safe and sustainable water supply. Phthalocyanines (Pcs), a class of versatile and robust organic compounds, have garnered significant attention for their application in various water treatment processes. This review paper offers a groundbreaking investigation of Pc-enabled technologies within the domain of water treatment applications. The core aim of this review is to meticulously analyze the chemical and optical properties of Pcs, elucidate their photosensitization mechanism and establish the crucial connection between their chemical structure and photodynamic efficacy. The various modes of Pcs application in water treatment processes - whether in …

Purpose In Life And Associated Cognitive And Affective Mechanisms, Louis Fang, Alfred Allan, Joanne M. Dickson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose in life is a well-established contributor to positive well-being. However, for a more comprehensive understanding of purpose in life, further exploration is needed about the processes implicated in purpose from a cognitive and affective perspective. This scoping review aims to identify the cognitive and/or affective mechanisms (CAMs) correlating with purpose in life and to examine these relationships based on relevant existing literature. Using search terms related to CAMs and purpose in life, we conducted a comprehensive search across five databases (Web of Science, Medline, Pubmed, Scopus, and psycinfo) to identify those examining the relationship between these constructs. Ninety-nine manuscripts …

Research Trends In Production, Separation, And Identification Of Bioactive Peptides From Fungi: A Critical Review, Tanvir Ahmed, Angéla Juhász, Utpal Bose, Netsanet Shiferaw Terefe, Michelle L. Colgrave

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Fungal-derived bioactive peptides (BPs) are increasingly attracting significant academic and industry research interest due to their high-quality protein content and potential environmentally friendly credentials. Fungi encompass a diverse range of species, some of which remain underexplored with demonstrated the ability to synthesise complex peptides with unique and potent bioactivities. While some recent reviews have focused on fungal protein sources and BPs, there remains a knowledge gap in the technologies and methods used to produce, isolate, and identify BPs from various fungal species. This article critically evaluates the strengths, challenges, and future directions of the recent methods and technologies employed in …

Mitigation Of Alkali-Induced Ash Aerosol Particles Impacts On Solid Fuel Combustion Systems, Temitope Folusho Bankefa

Theses and Dissertations

Low-rank solid fuels impact heat transfer efficiency and energy conversion in steam generation, with adverse operational and environmental consequences. Despite the attention coal-biomass co-combustion has garnered as a climate-aware power generation alternative, inorganic species in low-rank fuel types can lead to counterproductive outcomes in combustion systems. However, improved combustion technology and fuel quality enhancement can facilitate the safe utilization of these fuels. A review of scientific literature underscores the need for research in fuel quality improvement as a climate change mitigation strategy during the global transition to renewable energy sources. Identifying problematic species in solid fuels and understanding ash formation …

The Interconnectedness Of Indigenous Health: Local, National, And International Influences, Courtney Claussen

Theses and Dissertations

Indigenous Peoples have always understood the interconnectedness of health. There are many Indigenous-specific health determinants that positively or negatively impact prevalent health conditions. Each of the products in this three-part portfolio highlight health determinants that directly or indirectly contribute to the health of Indigenous Peoples. Key topics within each product include Cultural Protocol, culturally safe practices, food security and access, type 2 diabetes, and localized health approaches. The products also highlight the historical and current impacts of colonization on Indigenous health. Each product interconnects to consider the variable ways Indigenous-specific health determinants impact Indigenous populations. In the first product, I …

Impact Of Substance Use And Perceptions Of Social Support On Psychological Distress Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Laura Gorman

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) are the leading cause of disability and mortality for individuals under the age of 45 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021; Moore et al., 2014). Previous research has informed us that substance use, perceptions of social support, and TBI severity have all been associated with increased levels of psychological distress. Given the prevalence of TBI and its impact on physical and mental health outcomes, it is important to understand how outside factors (substance use and perceptions of social support) relate with TBI severity to effect overall levels of psychological distress. Objective: Drawing from self-determination …

Protective Factors For Suicidal Ideation In Transgender Adults Living In Rural Communities, Genel Gronkowski

Theses and Dissertations

Transgender adults living in rural communities within the USA may be at an increased risk for suicidal ideation compared to their cisgender peers. Meyer’s Minority Stress Model postulates that this may be due to unique stressors that result from a minoritized identity that may lead to poor mental health outcomes, such as suicidal ideation; individual and community level protective factors may buffer or protect from poor health outcomes. The purpose of this study is to identify protective factors that may be unique to transgender adults experiencing suicidal ideation in rural communities. Utilizing a grounded theory approach, a homogenous group of …

The Impact Of Upper-Elementary C3wp Resources On First Draft Student Writing Samples: A Study Of Lexical Cohesion, Semantic Overlap, Grammar And Mechanics, Lisa Fricke Gusewelle

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the impact of the College, Career, and Community Writers Program (C3WP) on upper-elementary students' first draft writing quality, addressing the challenges teachers face in providing timely and effective feedback on extensive student writing, particularly in spelling, grammar, mechanics, and cohesion. The hypothesis posits that C3WP resources will improve students' writing by enhancing lexical cohesion and reducing surface-level errors. Four 6th-grade students with varying reading proficiency levels participated in two C3WP mini-units over a two-month period. First drafts were analyzed using the Tool for the Automatic Analysis of Text Cohesion (TAACO) to measure semantic overlap and lexical cohesion, …

Examining Barriers And Motivation Toward University Stem Faculty Research Success, Jordan A. Jaeger

Theses and Dissertations

All university faculty pursuing scholarly goals tackle complex tasks over long periods, yet some must overcome additional adversity and challenges to succeed. Recent studies have measured faculty research success according to their self-reported accomplishments in research activities, publications, and grant writing, and motivation was a predictor of success (Stupnisky, BrckaLorenz, et al., 2019; Stupnisky et al., 2023). This dissertation describes a three-study program of research that examined how faculty navigated barriers to research success through the lens of different theories of motivation.Faculty face barriers in completing research because it often involves a lengthy and emotion filled process, from research design …

Encompassing ‘Himdag’ (Indigenous Way Of Life) To Address Cardiometabolic Disease In American Indian And Alaska Native Communities Through Research, Policy And Action, Heather Medicine Bear

Theses and Dissertations

Cardiometabolic diseases (CMD), encompassing conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, present a significant health burden within American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. This dissertation, through the culmination of three products, including a scoping review, policy brief and strategic planning toolkit, seeks to understand and address CMD in tribal communities through an Indigenous lens. Product #1, Interventions for Cardiometabolic Health in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities: A Scoping Review, entails a thorough review of implemented CMD interventions targeting AI/AN communities to understand programmatic, clinical, and community-based prevention strategies. By synthesizing available evidence, …

Numerical Investigation And Seismic Performance Evaluation Of Liquefied Natural Gas (Lng) Cylindrical Steel Storage Tanks Under Earthquake Loading, Shafqat Ullah

Theses and Dissertations

Cylindrical steel tanks are an important structural components of various industries, power plants, oil refineries, and other lifeline facilities. These liquid-filled reservoirs are prone to local instability (buckling) when exposed to lateral seismic forces. This thesis aims to study the seismic buckling performance of an empty and partially filled cylindrical steel storage tanks using finite element modeling (FEM) approaches. To validate the accuracy of the FEA ABAQUS software, the cylindrical tanks are considered for both static linear buckling, non-linear, as well as dynamic (seismic non-linear) analysis. A total of 3 cylindrical shells having 1 perfect model without carbon fiber reinforced …

Using Libensemble To Enhance Numerical Ice-Sheet Flow Simulations, Kuang Hsu Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Here, we interface an ice sheet flow model, FastIceFlo v1.0, with the Python toolkitlibEnsemble to enable dynamic ensembles of computations. We test the interface’s capability to perform dynamic ensembles of computations by conducting a sensitivity analysis. The results indicate the interface’s ability to perform dynamic ensembles of computations. Future work could extend the interface to include mass balance to run prognostic simulations. The eventual goal is to run simulation ensembles of large-scale ice sheets forward in time to better assess its sea level contribution sensitivity to uncertainties in climate forcing parameterization.

Healing Through Decolonized Learning: The Transformative Journeys Of Online Indigenous Health Ph.D. Students, Stephen Wyatt

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the transformative and healing experiences of doctoral students enrolled in the first fully online Indigenous Health Ph.D. program at the University of North Dakota. The research aims to understand the unique experiences and supports influencing the success of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in this program. The qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 23 Indigenous Health Ph.D. students (N = 23) to explore their lived experiences. By fostering a sense of community, incorporating cultural relevance into the curriculum, and providing robust support systems, the Indigenous Health Ph.D. program facilitated significant personal and academic growth …

Recent Progress In Microencapsulation Technology And Its Applications In Petroleum Industry, Jingyi Zhu, Jiayu He, Jie Zhou, Zhaozhong Yang, Xiaogang Li, Ying Li, Zhenjiang You

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Oilfield chemicals play a pivotal role in optimizing the development of oil and gas resources. Emerging technologies for the controlled release of these chemicals have captured considerable interest among petroleum engineers. Microencapsulation, a method widely employed for controlled release in various industries such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture, is gaining traction in the realm of oil and gas exploitation. This paper provides a comprehensive review of encapsulation technologies, including solvent evaporation, coacervation, and polymerization methods. Special emphasis is placed on recent advancements in the applications of microcapsules within the oil and gas sector. Given the profound impact of release behavior …

Aggression And Violence In The Emergency Department: A Qualitative Study Exploring The Perspectives Of Frontline Healthcare Professionals, Joshua Johnson, Sara Hansen, Luke Hopper, Luke Brook, Jess Watson, Brennen Mills

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Aggression and violence (AV) towards frontline healthcare professionals (FHPs) represent a rapidly increasing strain on hospitals, impacting clinician mental health and the provision of patient care. Little is known about the perceptions of healthcare professionals on current aggression management practices. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of FHPs on AV in hospital emergency departments (EDs). Methods: Eight semi-structured focus groups consisting of 6–10 participants from five hospital EDs were held. Participants included medical doctors, nurses, and work health safety staff. Focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed before undergoing thematic analysis. Findings: Four main themes were identified: (i) …

Detection Of Arrhythmias And Myocardial Infarction Using Svm And Ann Algorithms, Mohammad Issa, Ghada Saad, Mohammad Abdo, Aous Mohammad

Baghdad Science Journal

The heart is one of the most vital organs in humans, and any defect in its function is reflected in the general health of the patient. Therefore, the heart and its diseases have been largely studied in order to help the doctors diagnose heart diseases and reduce errors as much as possible. This study aims to investigate and suggest a method for diagnosing heart diseases from electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. Initially, noise was removed from the signal and the morphological and dynamic features of the ECG signal were extracted by an appropriate feature extraction algorithm and wavelet transformation. A support vector …

Wavelet-Attention Swin For Automatic Diabetic Retinopathy Classification, Rasha Ali Dihin, Ebtesam N. Alshemmary, Waleed A. M. Al-Jawher

Baghdad Science Journal

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a complication of diabetes that affects the eyes by damaging the blood vessels in the retina. High blood sugar levels can cause leakage or blockage of these vessels, leading to vision loss or blindness. Early detection of DR is crucial to prevent blindness, but manually analyzing fundus images can be time-consuming, especially with a large number of images. Swin-Transformers have gained popularity in medical image analysis, reducing calculations and yielding improved results. This paper introduces the WT Attention-Db5 Block, which focuses attention on the high-frequency domain using Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT). This block extracts detailed information …

Synthesis, Structural, Morphological Characterization, And Cytotoxicity Assays Of Metal Complexes Decorated Sio2 Nanoparticles Against Breast Cancer Cell Lines (Mda-Mb-231), Alya'a J. Ahmed, Mahasin F. Alias

Baghdad Science Journal

This study examines the new synthesis of Pt (IV) and Au (III) Mannich base complexes derived from ciprofloxacin. The complexes were then used as precursors to prepare SiO2/PtO2 and SiO2/Au2O3 nanoparticles by depositing the synthesized complexes on porous silica nanoparticles. Elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-vis, molar conductivity measurements, and melting point were used to characterize this ligand and its metal complexes. Elemental analysis data show that the general formula of the metal complexes formed is [M(L)2Cl2] nCl.H2O, where L = Mannich base ligand and M = Au(III) and Pt(IV), and n = 1,2 respectively with octahedral structure. The chemical structure and …