Digital Commons Network^™

Dyscluded': Women's Experiences Of Mothering Autistic Children As Described In Their Stories', Juliet Hall

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

My research, grounded in feminist research practices, uses an auto/biographical approach to explore the experiential knowledge of women mothering autistic children. It arose from a yearning for discovery. I use women’s stories to increase understanding of this experience to disrupt deeply embedded discourses and to benefit others with shared experiences.

There is a substantial body of knowledge on the experience of parent’s raising autistic children, however this tends to focus on a specific aspect of their autism journey. It is often presented in a gender-blind way. Much of it fails to acknowledge the implications of sociocultural expectations on mothers and …

University Students' Understanding And Utilization Of Food Labels: A Cross-Sectional Study, Sharifa Alblooshi, Linda Smail, Asya Aldayyani, Falak Zeb, Alia Ibrahim

All Works

Introduction: This study is aimed at investigating Zayed University students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) regarding food labels and at identifying key predictors of food label use through logistic regression analysis.Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional study used a validated questionnaire to elicit data on KAPs regarding the use of nutritional information and food labels. This study was conducted from January to May 2023 in the UAE among students from Zayed University. A total of 1153 students aged 18 and above from Zayed University participated in the study. They were recruited using snowball sampling. Descriptive statistics were obtained using the Statistical Package …

Prevalence, Phenotype, And Correlates Of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Symptoms In The Gulf Cooperation Council: An Underserved Region, Bernou Melisse, Hassan Fakhri, Lynne Kennedy, Maria J. Figueiras, Munirah Alshebali, Hala Abu Taha, Carine El Khazen, Dalal Alkazemi, Sandra Mulkens

All Works

Introduction: Prevalence estimates and correlates of ARFID in non-Western samples are lacking. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of ARFID symptoms, identify its phenotypes, and explore its correlates in a community sample from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Method: Participants were parents of children aged 4–13 years (n = 87) and individuals of ≥ 14 years old (n = 433). They completed the Pica, ARFID, and Rumination Disorder Interview-ARFID-Questionnaire (PARDI-AR-Q), the Nine Item ARFID Screen (NIAS) and the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Multiple regression analyses were performed with body mass index or its standard deviation score, comorbid psychopathology, EDE-Q …

In The Clear: Timber Harvest Informs Elk Summer Nutrition And Resource Selection In A Densely Forested Landscape, Trevor C. Weeks

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

As wildlife and habitats face unprecedented challenges in the form of landscape conversion, shifting disturbance regimes, and climate change, it becomes increasingly important for land and wildlife managers to find avenues for collaboration as they seek to maintain habitat to support robust wildlife populations. Timber harvest may provide one such avenue for collaboration. It has been shown to increase the quality and quantity of ungulate nutritional resources by reverting stands to early successional stages. Additionally, timber harvest may allow for a more precise application of such effects, as managers choose where and how to harvest timber. However, the exact effects …

Tactile Kinaesthetic Methods Without Abdominal Pressure Promoting Gastrointestinal Passage In Preterm Infants: A Scoping Review, Natalie Hurst, Jos M. Latour, Christian F. Poets, Christoph E. Schwarz

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background: Tactile kinaesthetic stimulation (TKS) might support enteral feeding and meconium excretion in preterm infants, but volvulus has been linked to abdominal massage. Aim: To map the evidence and to identify knowledge gaps on TKS in preterm infants. Methods: A scoping review was conducted in August 2024 using four databases. Results: Ten studies (totaling 268 infants weighing 1000–2500g at birth) met inclusion criteria. All studies utilized whole-body TKS, involving stroking and movement with moderate to gentle pressure, administered 1 to 3 times daily by staff. Starting TKS in the first days of life seemed to improve meconium excretion, while later …

Autolyzed Brewer's Yeast Enhances Growth And Intestinal Health In Early Life Stages Of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus L.), Sheu Odu-Onikosi, Taofik Momoh, Ben Eynon, Nicola Pontefract, Victor Kuri, Holger Kühlwein, Daniel Merrifield

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The early life stages of fish are critical for determining the overall productivity and sustainability of aquaculture operations. This study investigated the effects of dietary autolyzed brewer's yeast (ABY) on the growth performance and intestinal health of Nile tilapia fry (Oreochromis niloticus). A 35-day feeding trial with 480 Nile tilapia fry across 12 experimental tanks tested the effects of diets supplemented with 1, 2, and 4 g/kg of ABY, with a control diet for comparison. The results indicated that the diet which had 1 g/kg ABY supplementation (ABY1) significantly enhanced the weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) while reducing …

Effects Of Dietary L-Tryptophan On Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, And Protein Metabolism In Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus), Israt Mishu, Lindee Mason, Ahmed Mustafa

Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal

This research examines the impact of dietary L-tryptophan supplementation on growth performance, feed efficiency, and protein metabolism in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) under stress and non-stress settings. This experiment evaluated essential growth metrics, encompassing weight gain, length gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and protein energy retention. Nile tilapia were categorized into four experimental groups: a control group on a commercial diet, a control group supplemented with L-tryptophan (0.33%/kg feed), a stress-induced group receiving cortisol (0.02%/kg feed), and a stress-induced group receiving both cortisol (0.02%/kg feed) and L-tryptophan supplementation (0.33%/kg feed). The findings indicated that Ltryptophan supplementation significantly enhanced …

Towards Achieving The Un Sustainable Development Goals: The Role Of Ai In Municipality Services, Thabit Sultan Mohammed, Karim Mohammed Aljebory, Ahmed Thabit Sultan

Mesopotamian Journal of Computer Science

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure global peace and prosperity by 2030. However, progress has been hindered by challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, funding shortages, political instability, and data limitations. Municipal services, crucial to achieving the SDGs, provide essential functions like waste management, healthcare, and public safety. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers innovative solutions to enhance these services, improving urban sustainability and fostering public-private collaboration. This research examines AI's role in municipal services, analyzing its applications, benefits, challenges, and future potential through case studies and expert …

A Study Of Glyphosate, Pesticide Mixtures, And Metabolic Health Outcomes: Integrating Epidemiologic, Mechanistic, And Ecological Evidence On Environmental Drivers Of Metabolic Health, Sarah Otaru

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Glyphosate, the most extensively used herbicide worldwide, has become a ubiquitous environmental contaminant. Although initially considered safe due to its specific biochemical target in plants, emerging evidence suggests that chronic, low-level human exposure may disrupt metabolic processes. Simultaneously, the global rise in metabolic disorders such as metabolic syndrome (MetS), obesity, and type 2 diabetes, has created a pressing need to identify novel, potentially modifiable environmental contributors. This dissertation investigates the relationship between glyphosate and metabolic health through a triangulated framework that integrates individual-level epidemiological analysis, systematic synthesis of mechanistic evidence, and ecological evaluation of pesticide mixtures.

The first study employed …

Technological Development Of In-Cell Nmr: Microfluidic, Metabolomic, And Fluxomic Approaches, Nicholas Sciolino

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

In the fields of structural biology, metabolomics, and fluxomics, there is a driving, technique-based concern when it comes to high-resolution spectrometry and its marriage to biological and physiological relevance. Sample preparation often involves cellular perturbation, lysate separation schemes, combinations with non-biological reagents, and timeline slack. Conceptually, the farther we get from the cell, the greater the potential disparity between what exists in vivo and our in vitro manipulations. This is particularly true when seeking to collect data on transfected targets of interest, and on sensitive metabolic equilibria that occur on the order of minutes. The question remains: if we are …

Towards A Framework To Integrate Smart Urban Agriculture Into City Planning In Egypt, Heba Adel Ahmed Hussein

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This study discusses challenges facing the expansion of urban agriculture in Egypt, investigates overcoming these challenges using smart solutions, and proposes a framework to integrate smart urban agriculture (SUA) into Egyptian cities’ plans. The proposed framework provides an insight into the aspects that should be considered before, during, and after transformation to SUA. This study could serve as a basis for the integration of smart agriculture into urban planning theories and practices, and as an inspiration for urban planners, designers, landscape architects, policymakers, and decision-makers to create strategies for promoting digital transformation in Egyptian cities.

Effects Of Ionophore And Yeast Addition To The Diet On Starch Digestion And Rumen Andblood Parameters In Sheep With Subacute Rumen Acidosis, Şevket Evci̇, Mehmet Aki̇f Karsli, Mehmet Demi̇rci̇, Gökhan Şen

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study aimed to investigate the prevention of acidosis in ruminants, which causes yield and financial losses, and toevaluate the effects of feed additives on starch digestion. Four male Bafra yearling lambs with cannulated rumens were used in a 60-daystudy. Each lamb underwent 10 days of adaptation to a ration and 5 days of sampling for four different rations including a control ration(CR), monensin ration (MR), Saccharomyces cerevisiae ration (SR), and a ration with the combination of monensin and Saccharomycescerevisiae (MSR). The experiment followed a 4 × 4 Latin-square design. Dry matter intake and digestion rates were recorded as 2404 …

Arginine-Modified Surface Coffee Grounds Activated Carbon For Pb2+ Adsorption: Kinetic, Isotherm And Thermodynamic Studies, Jarawee Chupirom, Sirikorn Khaophong, Nopporn Hemyakorn, Sonchai Intachai, Panita Kongsune

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This research focuses on enhancing the value of coffee waste by converting it into activated carbon for removing Pb²⁺ ions from contaminated water. Coffee grounds were activated with KOH and carbonized at 600°C for 4 h to produce activated carbon (CGAC), then modified with arginine via hydrothermal treatment at 120°C for 48 h to create Arg-CGAC. The adsorbents' chemical and physical properties were analyzed using SEM, FT-IR, BET, and pHpzc methods. Batch experiments revealed that Arg-CGAC exhibited superior Pb2+ adsorption (223.10 mg∙g‒1) compared to CGAC (119.23 mg∙g‒1) under optimal conditions. Isotherm analysis showed stronger adsorbate-adsorbent interactions and a more endothermic …

Synergistic Effects Of Co-Ni Nanoalloys On Sio2@Tio2: A Novel Approach To Photocatalytic Tetracycline Degradation, Pratyush Kumar Sahu, Alaka Rath, Aslisha Champati, Ashish Madual, Pravat Manjari Mishra, Abanti Pradhan, Brundabana Naik

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

To develop a cost-effective alternative to noble metal catalysts for photocatalysis, we synthesized a series of bimetallic Co-Ni nanoalloys on core-shelled SiO2@TiO2 nanostructures via a chemical reduction approach. The research demonstrates the photocatalytic behaviour of the Co-Ni alloy-enhanced SiO2@TiO2 (ST-Co, Ni) hybrid nanocatalyst, focusing on its crystalline structures, morphological shapes, chemical conditions, and optical properties, utilizing techniques such as X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope, and electrochemical analysis. The catalyst was evaluated for its effectiveness in degrading tetracycline, an overused antibiotic that persists in aquatic environments and is known for …

Enhancing Efficiency And Productivity Of Microbial Fuel Cells For Optimization Of Wastewater Treatment With Bioenergy Production, Diptimayee Pradhan, Krishna Pada Bauri, Debarpita Ghosal, Satchidananda Mishra, Abhijeet Das, Aditya Raj Singh, Akhil Gedela, Kumbhakarna Mallik, Mohammed Hassan Ali Hbag

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The primary objective is to remove the pollutants from the wastewater streams and reintegrate them into the water cycle, therefore safeguarding the environment and promoting public health. The utilization of membrane fuel cells (MFCs) enables the conversion of organic molecules present in wastewater into electrical energy, while concurrently generating potable water. To optimize the process, it is essential to understand the parameters that affect the performance and the relevant techniques such as electrode materials, microbial collectives, and operating settings to improve the efficiency and performance of MFC. Thus, it aims to present novel ideas that support the real-world deployment of …

The Purpose Of The Preliminary Injunction, Samuel Bray

Journal Articles

This Article explores a reshaping of the preliminary injunction that is occurring in the federal courts. A preliminary injunction is designed to be a "hold in place" order, blocking actions by the parties that would undermine the efficacy of the court's remedial options. But the preliminary injunction is becoming a device for accelerating the merits decision. Instead of a four-factor test for preliminary relief, increasingly there is one factor: the merits. This Article critiques this transformation, and it argues that the preliminary injunction should be recentered on the protection of the court's remedial options.

Proteomics Profiling Of Research Models For Studying Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Mathilde Resell, Hanne-Line Rabben, Animesh Sharma, Lars Hagen, Linh Hoang, Nan T. Skogaker, Anne Aarvik, Eirik Knudsen Bjåstad, Magnus K. Svensson, Manoj Amrutkar, Caroline S. Verbeke, Surinder K. Batra, Gunnar Qvigstad, Timothy C. Wang, Anil Rustgi, Duan Chen, Chun-Mei Zhao

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most lethal malignancies, with a five-year survival rate of 10-15% due to late-stage diagnosis and limited efficacy of existing treatments. This study utilized proteomics-based systems modelling to generate multimodal datasets from various research models, including PDAC cells, spheroids, organoids, and tissues derived from murine and human samples. Identical mass spectrometry-based proteomics was applied across the different models. The preparation and validation of the research models and the proteomics were described in detail. The assembly datasets we present here contribute to the data collection on PDAC, which will be useful for systems modelling, …

When The Storm Clears: Stories Of Life Beyond Chronic Illness, Marie Bernard, David Mercer, Linda Bernard, Simone Bernard

EMET Projects

This book is a collection of personal stories from patients at the Intestinal Rehabilitation Clinic at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Each of them shares a common thread of living with Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS) — but this book is not about their diagnosis alone. It is about their lives outside of it: the ordinary, extraordinary, and uniquely personal experiences that make them who they are.

Body Composition In Preterm Infants: Current Insights And Emerging Perspectives, Sreekanth Viswanathan, Melissa Thoene, Zaineh Alja'nini, Pradeep Alur, Kera Mcnelis

Journal Articles: Pediatrics

In recent years, significant advancements in respiratory and nutritional care have markedly improved the survival rates of preterm infants and enhanced long-term health outcomes. Despite these improvements, emerging research highlights the lasting impacts of early growth patterns on an individual's health trajectory. Adults born prematurely face a higher incidence of health issues related to their early birth. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that preterm infants should achieve growth rates similar to those of fetuses, with clinicians emphasizing nutrition delivery to help these infants reach their expected weight for gestational age. However, this approach often results in altered body composition, …

Postnatal Growth Assessment Of The Very-Low-Birth-Weight Preterm Infant, Kera Mcnelis, Melissa Thoene, Katie A. Huff, Ting Ting Fu, Zaineh Alja'nini, Sreekanth Viswanathan

Journal Articles: Pediatrics

Preterm birth represents a nutritional emergency and a sudden dissociation of the maternal-placental-fetal unit that regulates metabolic and endocrine physiology. Growth demonstrates health and is a signal of physiological well-being. Growth is expensive for a critically ill infant and possible only after other homeostasis energy demands are met. Despite an expert-stated goal that preterm infants should grow at a similar rate to their gestational age-matched fetal counterparts, this is not the reality for many preterm infants. Other investigators have proposed new metrics for growth quality in the neonatal intensive care unit. This review discusses growth assessment and standards in very-low-birth-weight …

Rvd2 Mitigates Tnfɑ-Induced Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Through Nrf2 Signaling In Placental Trophoblasts, Taija Hahka, Deekshika Sekar, Prakash Kumar Sahoo, Aiswariya Ravi, Colman Freel, Chandan Krishnamoorthy, Sankar Ramamurthy, Rebekah Rapoza, Rebecca Drakowski, Anum Akbar, Matthew Van Ormer, Melissa Thoene, Corrine K. Hanson, Tara Nordgren, Sathish Kumar Natarajan, Ann Anderson-Berry

Journal Articles: Pediatrics

INTRODUCTION: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are marked by elevated levels of TNFα, which increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) and disrupts metabolism of trophoblasts. Resolvin D2 (RvD2), an omega-3 fatty acid-derived lipid mediator, is known to resolve inflammation, but its role in protecting trophoblasts by promoting antioxidant responses to alleviate ROS remains unclear. Nuclear translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) controls cellular defense mechanisms against oxidative stress and helps with the maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis. Upon translocation to nucleus, NRF2 activates the antioxidant response element (ARE), inducing the expression of genes that can mitigate ROS. Hence, …

The Ole Miss, University Of Mississippi

The Ole Miss (1897-)

The Ole Miss Annual, 2025

Hay Comida En La Casa: Study On Food Inaccessibility In Nyc, Crystal A. Secaira , '25

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

Evaluating And Mapping Habitat Suitability And Effects Of Woodland Treatment On Breeding Pinyon Jays In Colorado, Emily Diane Macklin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The pinyon jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) is a highly social, colonially nesting corvid endemic to the interior western United States whose populations have declined by ~72% since 1966, prompting the species’ current review for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Pinyon jays inhabit pinyon pine (Pinus subsect. Cembroides) and juniper (Juniperus spp.) woodlands and other dry conifer woodlands, portions of which are treated through tree thinning and removal for fuels reduction, ecological restoration, and habitat improvement for wildlife. As a result there is pressing need to better understand how woodland treatment and other potential drivers impact pinyon jay habitat suitability and …

Enhancing Alfalfa Persistence In Rangelands: Evaluating Morphological Traits Of Medicago Sativa Subsp. Falcata Germplasm, Abdulallah Mohammed Alomair

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rangelands cover nearly half of the Earth’s surface, representing about 54% (79 million km2), and occur in different types and climates worldwide. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a major component in rangelands and covers about (320 thousand km2), representing about 0.4% of total global rangeland area. As a critical perennial legume crop, alfalfa can improve soil health by fixing approximately 336 kg/ha/year of nitrogen and sequestering up to 614 kg/ha/year of carbon, while enhancing livestock production due to its high content level of vitamins, magnesium, minerals, fiber, and protein. However, environmental stresses such as drought, freezing, and grazing limit alfalfa …

Epidemiological And Diagnostic Approaches For Soybean Cyst Nematode In South Dakota, Nabina Karki

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines (HG) Ichinohe, is an endoparasitic nematode and one of the major yield-limiting pathogens of soybean (Glycine max L.) in the United States. Soybean cyst nematode alone accounts for more than $1.5 billion economic loss annually in North America. First reported in the U.S.A. in 1954 in New Hanover County, North Carolina and later in 1995 in Union County, South Dakota. Prior to this study, SCN has spread in 34 counties in the state. As a soil pathogen, which can adapt to most soil conditions under soybean production and beside soybean, it is hosted on …

Evaluation Of Two Stem Boring Insects In South Dakota: A Survey Of Wheat Stem Sawfly And Determining The Impact Of Planting Date On Dectes Stem Borer Infestations In Sunflowers, Khuma Kumari Bhusal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wheat, Triticum aestivum L., and sunflower, Helianthus annuus L., are major crops in South Dakota that are threatened by stem-boring insect pests capable of reducing yield and harvestability. In wheat, the wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton, has long been recognized as a destructive pest in the Northern Great Plains, yet its actual distribution within South Dakota remained uncertain. To determine its presence, a two-year survey was conducted across the state from 2023–2024, during which one to four wheat fields per county were sampled using standardized sweep net transects. Wheat stem sawflies were collected only from Harding and Perkins Counties …

Learning Positive Deviance Techniques: How Non-Conformity To Vote-Buying Is Practiced And Its Outcomes, The Ugandan Context, Collins Kwarisima

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research has investigated the use of positive deviance or exemplary behavior as an innovative approach to addressing political corruption, specifically the vote-buying practice in Uganda. To understand the techniques of positive deviance in vote-buying, this study was guided by the main research question: How is non-conformity to vote-buying practiced, and what are its outcomes? Individual and focus group interviews were utilized to collect qualitative data from 40 respondents (voters and political leaders) who deter the vote-buying practice in Rukungiri District, Western Uganda. With the help of community gatekeepers, the study followed the inclusion criteria to identify voters and political …

Isolation, Characterization & Identification Of Cultivable Field Pea Seed Bacteria In South Dakota, Diana Wairimu Njuguna

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is a legume, cultivated on over 25 million acres, particularly in Canada, France, China, Russia, and the United States. Its seeds harbor microbiota including bacteria and fungi, either on the surface (epiphytes) or within seed tissues (endophytes). These microbes can be pathogenic or beneficial, enhancing seedling metabolism and protection from environmental stresses. Characterizing beneficial seed microbiota enables development of microbial inoculants for seed treatment. Seeds from 12 varieties (green or yellow seed coats) were harvested from Sturgis and Dakota Lakes in 2021. Epiphytes were extracted using sonication followed by grinding the seeds to obtain endophytes. Isolates …

Key Brain Region Identification In Obesity Prediction With Structural Mri And Probabilistic Uncertainty Aware Model, Walia Farzana, Megan A. Witherow, Ahmed Temtam, Liangsuo Ma, Melanie Bean, F. Gerry Moeller, K. M. Iftekharuddin

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Objectives/Goals: Predictive performance alone may not determine a model’s clinical utility. Neurobiological changes in obesity alter brain structures, but traditional voxel-based morphometry is limited to group-level analysis. We propose a probabilistic model with uncertainty heatmaps to improve interpretability and personalized prediction. Methods/Study Population: The data for this study are sourced from the Human Connectome Project (HCP), with approval from the Washington University in St. Louis Institutional Review Board. We preprocessed raw T1-weighted structural MRI scans from 525 patients using an automated pipeline. The dataset is divided into training (357 cases), calibration (63 cases), and testing (105 cases). Our probabilistic model …