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Social Complex Systems In Virtual Thirdspaces Of Global Education: Sites Of Structural Inequalities And Radical Pedagogical Possibilities, José Luis Jimenez-Figarotti

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

While Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and Virtual Exchange (VE) are celebrated as democratizing tools fostering intercultural understanding, this techno-utopian narrative obscures a complex reality: the virtual classroom is a contested social field where global inequalities are reproduced and amplified. This dissertation interrogates this paradox, exploring how structural inequalities, digital divides, and epistemic hierarchies are negotiated within the Virtual Thirdspace of global education. Integrating Structural Inequalities (Galtung, 1969; Farmer, 2004; Tilly, 1998; and Young, 2008), Critical Environmental Justice (Pellow, 2018), Intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989), World-Systems Analysis (Wallerstein, 1974), and Thirdspace theory (Soja, 1996), the study examines this terrain as both a …

Exploring Tourism Business Voices In Navigating Pandemic Crisis And Resilience-Building, Godwin Adiel A. Lema

Tanzanian Economic Review

COVID-19 challenged mobility, redefining crisis navigation and resilience. A modified Challenge Metamorphosis Model (CMM) is proposed to understand crisis navigating process in tourism business resilience-building. A pragmatic mixed-method design, involving 158 tourism-business respondents, multiple regions, interviews, and observation during June–November 2020, was applied. Impacts, challenges, opportunities, varied business responses and outcomes were mirrored. Immediate reactive closure and booking cancellation responses were distinguished from proactive adaptive business continuity measures with low visitors, postponement, few bookings and negotiable employment flexibility. Health, safety, and culturally embedded coping practices and their reinvention aided crisis navigation. Medium-term crisis navigating strategies were differentiated from long-term resilience-building …

The Effects Of Household Shocks On Women’S Self-Reported Health In Tanzania, Yoeni Silas Kaniki, Wilhelm Michael Ngasamiaku, Innocent Muganyizi Pantaleo

Tanzanian Economic Review

Household shocks are among the factors that deteriorate women's self-reported health (SRH). Accordingly, we analyse the effects of household shocks on women’s self-reported health using a sample of 4,958 women aged 18 years and above from waves 4 (2014/2015) and 5 (2020/2021) of the Tanzania National Panel Survey. We employ a correlated random-effects (CRE) ordered probit model to control for unobserved heterogeneity in an ordered outcome. We find that aggregate shocks increase the likelihood of reporting poor health by 0.6 percentage points while simultaneously reducing the probability of reporting better health by 1.9 percentage points. Moreover, women experiencing economic shocks …

Firm Level Labour Productivity Drivers And Export Status In Tanzania, Mgeni E. Msafiri, Vincent Leyaro, Rosemary Taylor

Tanzanian Economic Review

This study analysed the drivers of firm-level labour productivity by export status and estimated the counterfactual gains from exporting. Using the 2022 nationally representative Tanzania Enterprise Survey and an endogenous switching regression model, results revealed significant differences in the drivers of labour productivity between exporting and non-exporting firms. The productivity of exporting firms was positively associated with business linkages with small and medium-sized enterprises, foreign ownership, access to finance, and capital intensity. Similar factors were associated with labour productivity among non-exporting firms, alongside linkages with large firms. However, access to finance had asymmetric patterns: exporting firms benefited from greater financial …

Cash Transfer For Orphans And Vulnerable Children And Households’ Vulnerability To Poverty In Kenya: Evidence From Panel Data, Molly Owino-Owiti, Damiano Kulundu Manda, Samuel Misati Nyandemo

Tanzanian Economic Review

This study examined the effect of the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC) programme on vulnerability to poverty of households that had experienced a health shock in Kenya. The study used a three-wave panel data set for Kenya, collected in 2007, 2009, and 2011. A Fixed Effects model was used in the estimation. The study found that CT-OVC can reduce households’ Vulnerability to Asset Poverty (VAP) by 6.7 percent and Vulnerability to Food Poverty (VFP) by 33.8 percent. The VAP did not decline as much as VFP, indicating that the transfer may not be sufficient to reduce several …

Mobile Money And Economic Wellbeing In Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence From The 2021 Global Findex Survey, Emanuel Sulle Joseph, Martin Chegere, Kenneth Mdadila

Tanzanian Economic Review

Mobile money has expanded rapidly across Sub-Saharan Africa, accompanied by increasing mobile phone ownership and a growing number of registered users. Despite this, there is a concern about its effects on well-being. It has been argued that mobile money favoured those who were already financially included and financially stable. Therefore, the study used the Global Findex 2021 database, with a sample of 22686 respondents, to analyse the effects of mobile money on well-being and disaggregated the results by sex and location. The study employed binary probit regression and the results indicated that mobile phone ownership is not significantly associated with …

Hydroclimatic Whiplash Across The Contiguous United States: Characterizing Wet–Dry Transitions In Pdsi And Phdi, James Lam, Thomas Christopher Piechota

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Hydroclimatic whiplash, characterized by rapid transitions between wet and dry conditions, poses a growing challenge for water resource management and ecosystem stability. However, the spatial and statistical characteristics of wet–dry transitions across the contiguous United States are not fully understood. This study analyzed Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and Palmer Hydrological Drought Index (PHDI) records from 344 NOAA climate divisions spanning 1895–2024. Whiplash was defined as a transition between severe drought and severe wetness within 12-month rolling windows. Statistical descriptors including lag-1 autocorrelation, variance, and skewness were evaluated for whiplash and non-whiplash windows to assess differences between them. Whiplash hotspots …

In Vitro Anticancer Evaluation Of Tamoxifen And Paclitaxel-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles Against Breast And Lung Cancer With In Silico Docking, Arshia Amaan, Farah Mehak, Amer Jamil, Fatma Hussain

Journal of Bioresource Management

Breast and lung cancer are the primary cause of death worldwide, underlining the need for an improved therapeutic strategy. In the current study, tamoxifen (TAM) and paclitaxel (PTX) loaded chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) were produced for the evaluation of sustained drug delivery and enhanced anticancer potential of nanocarriers over conventional chemotherapy against breast and lung cancers, respectively. Nanoparticles were produced by the ionic gelation method and characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering and Fourier Transform Infrared Microscopy (FTIR), verifying the nanoscale morphology, stability and successful encapsulation. A drug release profile study (in vitro) (78 %, 60-75 %) and …

Prevalence And Risk Factors Association Of Babesiosis In Cattle And Buffaloes In District Naushahro Feroze, Sindh, Pakistan, Kazim Raza, Amjad Hussain, Sajid Moin, Huzaifa Arain, Muhammad Mohsen, Maria Abubakar, Erum Bughio, Barkat Ali

Journal of Bioresource Management

Background: Bovine babesiosis is a protozoan disease that is transmitted by ticks and has significant veterinary and economic impacts on tropical livestock systems. Prior to this study, no epidemiological data was available of Sindh, Pakistan.

Purpose: To estimate the Babesia spp. prevalence and estimate the risk factors with respect to cattle and buffaloes in five tehsils of District Naushahro Feroze, Sindh, Pakistan.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using 200 blood samples (100 Thari cattle; 100 Kundhi buffaloes; both sexes) in five tehsils (Kandiaro, Moro, Mehrabpur, Bhiria and Naushahro Feroze). Thin blood smears under Giemsa stain were viewed under oil-immersion …

Evaluation Of Heavy Metal And Health Risks Of Well Water In Abobo, Osara And Osaragada Communities In Kogi State, North-Central, Nigeria, Muhammed Haruna Isah, Blessing Ahmed, Dauda Tanko, Adang Kombe Lucas

Journal of Bioresource Management

Human health may be at risk if drinking water contains excessive amounts of heavy metals (HMs). To determine risks related to heavy metals, fifteen water samples were taken every month between July and September, 2024 from the communities of Abobo (Site A), Osara (Site B) and Osaragada (Site C) close to Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara. These samples were tested for ten HMs (Cu, Fe, Ni, Zn, Co, Cd, As, Cr, Hg, Pb) with the aid of Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The average concentration ranges as follows: Fe (0.378-0.511 mg/l), Cu (1.643-1.720 mg/l), Ni (0.31-0.556 mg/l), Zn (0.17-0.271 mg/l), …

Isolation, Quantification, And Characterization Of Microplastics In Atmospheric Fallout Across Different Areas Of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, Muhammad Rizwan, Aqib Javed, Muhammad Javed Islam, Kashif Riaz, Asif Bilal, Muhammad Nasir, Ayesha Ali

Journal of Bioresource Management

Microplastics have become widely dispersed in our environment, and even in the air we breathe. The present research aims at identifying and determining the amounts of microplastics present in atmospheric fallout over Lahore city, which is characterized by a large population and several manufacturing industries. In order to find out the existence of microplastics, samples of atmospheric fallout were collected from various sites across hustling municipalities of Lahore that included urbanized settlements. The analysis disclosed that there are various forms of microplastic fibers, fragments and granules indicating different sources of pollution. The identified ones varied from 114.485 µm to 2034.731 …

Sensitivity Of The Mangrove Forest In The Joal-Fadiouth Marine Protected Area (Senegal) To Climate Variability (Rainfall And Temperatures), Eugenie Marie Mossane Sene, Elhadji Faye, Sylvie Brizard Zongo, Hippolyte Ditona Tsumbu, Jean-Claude Micha

Journal of Bioresource Management

Mangroves provide coastal communities with a multitude of ecosystem services. This is the case in Joal-Fadiouth. A study on its mangrove dynamics revealed a decline in area between 1974 and 2004, followed by a gradual trend after it acquired Marine Protected Area (MPA) status in 2004. Given the importance of this mangrove, the research focused on analyzing its evolution associated with rainfall and temperature variability. To do this, Spearman’s Rho correlation coefficient was performed between mangrove areas in 10-year increments from 1974 to 2024 and values of climate parameters studied for each increment, with n (number of pairs) = 6. …

Inclusive Leadership And Its Impact On Employee Engagement And Creativity Among University Employees: The Mediating Role Of Organizational Diversity Climate, Amal Abdulmajeed Qassim, Hanan Osama Hassan Mahmoud

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

In this study, Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) is employed to examine the relationships among employee engagement, inclusive management, creativity, and organizational diversity climate in a Saudi university (University of Tabuk). Based on Social Exchange Theory (SET) and Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) theory, the research offers empirical evidence that inclusive leadership enhances the organisational diversity climate, thereby raising employee engagement and creativity. The organisational diversity climate is a vital mediating variable that underscores the importance of translating leadership decisions into beneficial outcomes for employees. Using data from the university employees (N = 150), PLS-SEM results indicate that inclusive leadership …

The Impact Of The Physical Environment, Interaction Quality, And Digital Services On Customer Perceptions Of Service Quality In Hotel Sector In Saudi Arabia, Eid K. Alotaibi

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

The current study aims to explore the impact of the physical environment, interaction quality, and digital services on customers' perceptions of service quality in the Saudi Arabian hotel sector, and examining the mediating role of psychological comfort and emotional satisfaction. A quantitative approach based on structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed. Data were collected from a sample of 300 guests at 4 to 5-star hotels in five major cities. The results showed that all three variables (physical environment, quality of interaction, and digital services) directly and statistically significantly affect psychological comfort, which in turn acts as a strong mediating variable …

The Role Of Distance Learning Technologies In Supporting University Education For Female Students: A Qualitative Case Study In The Context Of Saudi Vision 2030, Majd Ibrahim Alomar

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

This exploratory case study examines the role of distance-learning technologies in shaping instructional practices within gender-separated higher education in Saudi Arabia, a context seldom explored in the global literature on educational technology. Drawing on Sociocultural Theory, the study analyzes how Internet- and Ethernet-based videoconferencing platforms facilitate access, interaction, and engagement for female students taught remotely by male professors, a practice rooted in cultural norms of gender separation. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with students, faculty, and administrative staff, classroom observations, and review of institutional documents. The data were analyzed using direct interpretation and categorical aggregation. The findings show that …

The Impact Of Using Artificial Intelligence Tools On Enhancing Female Students’ Interaction And Participation In Online Learning, Haya Meshal Rajah Albaqami

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

This study explores how artificial intelligence (AI) tools support student interaction and participation in online learning, through the lens of Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). Sixteen female undergraduates (aged 19–23) from Turabah University College, Taif University, all experienced in using AI tools (ChatGPT, Grammarly, Canva), took part in individual interviews. Using reflexive thematic analysis, seven themes were identified describing students’ experiences: (1) Widespread AI Tool Use, (2) Enhanced Understanding of Content, (3) Facilitated Peer/Teacher Interaction, (4) Increased Academic Engagement, (5) Stimulated Independent Exploration, (6) Concerns and Challenges, and (7) AI as Support, Not Substitute. The AI tools were perceived …

Fungal-Associated Deterioration Of Polythene Bags Collected From The Dumping Sites Of District Sialkot: A Preliminary Screening Study, Zarish Fatima, Brian Gagosh Nayyar, Ayesha Sarwar, Mah-E- Noor Abbas, Saira Fiaz, Wajiha Seerat

Journal of Bioresource Management

Polythene bags are highly inert plastic materials made from monomers of ethylene. Due to their durability, lightweight, and low-weight characteristics, polythene bags are in high demand among consumers and retailers worldwide. This widespread use of polythene bags has led to the generation of polythene waste in the environment. This study focused on the degradation of polythene bags through fungal strains in the desired region.  In this research, three identified fungal strains, namely Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Fusarium oxysporum, were screened using two synthetic media for degradation, such as the culture plate method (CPM) and Liquid media degradation (LMD). A …

Psoriasis Effects On Psychological And Daily Activities In Patients Attending To Outpatient Clinics In Aldiwaniyah Teaching Hospital, Saja Abbas Musa, Hassan Raji Jallab, Akeel Hamid Jabur

Al-Qadisiyah Medical Journal

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-related skin disorder affecting 2–3% globally, linked to heart disease, joint issues, metabolic syndrome, and psychological disorders. It also impacts social life, mental health, and work productivity, with added challenges in Middle Eastern patients due to stigma and limited healthcare access. Aim: To assess the psychological and functional impact of psoriasis on patients attending Al-Diwaniyah Teaching Hospital. It focuses on anxiety, depression, social disengagement, and effects on daily activities like work, exercise, sleep, and hygiene. The study also explores the relationship between disease severity and impairment levels. Material and Methods: The study was conducted at …

Correlation Of Norepinephrine With Some Biochemical Parametric In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Aqeel Abed Nour Hadi, Ferdous A. Jabir, Muhammad Abd-Alwahab

Al-Qadisiyah Medical Journal

Background: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) resulting from the body's reduced ability to produce or use insulin effectively. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, and in type 2 diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin or becomes resistant to its effects. This causes a buildup of glucose in the bloodstream, which can eventually harm organs and tissues. This study was carried out on patients who attended the Diabetes and Endocrinology Specialist Center of Marjan City for Medical Education in Babil Province; all patients were diagnosed …

Interaction Between Tnf Inhibitors And Serum Il21levels With Susceptibility To Rheumatoid Arthritis, Maryam Yaseen Shaker, Orass Madhi Shaheed

Al-Qadisiyah Medical Journal

Background: Objectives: To estimate the significance of the central role of the immunological marker IL-21 level and know the interaction between TNF inhibitors and IL-21 with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sickness. Material and Methods: Serum testers were obtained from three distinct categories: the initial group consisted of those sick and diagnosed with RA who were undergoing treatment with TNF inhibitors, the second group included individuals who were recently diagnosed with RA, and the third group comprised healthy volunteers. The serum from this sample was utilized for quantifying the levels of IL-21 using the ELISA technique. Result: The level of …

Ophthalmic Complications In Thalassemia Patients Using Iron Chelating Therapy, Haider Aswad Layikh, Zainab Yousif Ismael, Dheya Nema Kadhum

Al-Qadisiyah Medical Journal

Background:\ Thalassemia's are a group of genetic diseases which are considered as the most common single gene disorder which are usually treated with repeated blood transfusions that may lead to iron accumulations in the body with multi organ complications. Objectives:\ The objectives of this study was to evaluate the most commonly observed ocular signs and complications of beta-thalassemia major, as well as to determine whether there are any significant ocular side effects of the iron chelators taken by many of these patients for the treatment of their condition. Materials & Methods:\ this cross sectional study evaluated the …

Data Walks, Data Parties, And Data Placemats: Tools For Building A Collaborative Data Strategy, Jenrose Fitzgerald, Karrie Simpson

Center for Social Development Research

Operation Food Search (OFS), a hunger relief organization that provides free food, nutrition education, and innovative programs proven to reduce food insecurity, has been thinking a lot about data in recent years. Much of that thinking focuses on data that speaks to the impact OFS is having on people’s lives. This Practice Brief present a case study of OFS’s work to develop richer data about the effectiveness of their programs, a cohesive data strategy, and a strong data culture.

Protecting Graduate Students From Burnout With Self-Compassion And Authenticity, Michael S. Leeman, Joshua J. Castleberry, Anna A. Ellenson, Morgan Wallbrown

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

This study investigated whether practicing self-compassion and embracing one's authentic self could protect graduate students from burnout. Researchers also empirically examined the mediating effect of authenticity in the relationship between self-compassion and burnout. A total of 318 master's degree students in a helping profession completed surveys assessing their levels of self-compassion, authenticity, and burnout. Results found that graduate students with higher levels of self-compassion and authenticity tended to have lower levels of burnout. Additionally, authenticity mediated the relationship between self-compassion and burnout. The findings suggest that practicing self-compassion and embracing one's authentic self may lead to lower levels of burnout …

Analysis Of Normalization, Resampling, And Weighted Voting To Improve K-Nn Performance In Diabetes Disease Detection, Agustiyar, R. Rizal Isnanto, Budi Warsito, Adi Wibowo, Ferry Jie

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Diabetes is a global health issue, and machine learning has become crucial for early detection. The k-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN) machine learning algorithm is widely used because it is simple and easy to implement; however, its performance is sensitive to feature scale differences, class imbalance, and the assumption of uniform decision-making, as commonly found in clinical datasets such as the Pima Indians Diabetes (PID) dataset. Many studies have been conducted to address these issues; however, very few have systematically evaluated the combined effects of preprocessing and distance-based decision-making methods on k-NN performance. This study evaluates the combined effects of preprocessing strategies …

A Physically Unclonable Function Authentication Protocol To Secure Ieee C37.118 Communications, Taylor Griffiths, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Chadni Islam, Paul Haskell-Dowland

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper outlines the need for security on the smart grid, specifically for Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) and Phasor Data Concentrators (PDCs). These devices are targeted due to their criticality to the smart grid and the insecure communication protocols used. Common attacks on these devices target the data sent between them. As such, integrity-based attacks are the focus of this paper, more specifically on False Data Injection attacks (FDIAs) and Time Synchronisation Attacks (TSAs). Security solutions are proposed throughout literature from mitigation and protection techniques to detection and resolution techniques. To secure the PMU and PDC, this paper proposes an …

Regenerating Publics - Developmental Inclusion: Neighborhood Opportunities And Public Realm Obstacles In Plymouth, Uk, Alessandro Aurigi

School of Art, Design and Architecture

The area around Union Street in Plymouth, UK, has been facing processes of decline. Key historical buildings sit empty, with deteriorating fabrics, epitomizing the socio-economic condition of the neighborhood. This paper explores perceptions of ‘inclusion’ in Union Street, and visions to improve it, through interviews with key stakeholders from community groups, the local authority, local businesses, landlords, local health organizations, visitors and designers. Whilst some local actors amplify inclusive processes - for example in the low-cost re-use of spaces to host micro, alternative businesses or community initiatives – these efforts clash with a general perception of a depleted and unsafe …

Framing China In Conflict Reporting: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Transitivity In Chinese And Western Media, Tingting Geng, Hongmei Tang

Journal of English and Applied Linguistics

This study employs a corpus-based critical discourse analysis (CDA) grounded in Halliday’s transitivity framework to investigate how China’s diplomatic stance is discursively constructed within conflict reporting. Focusing on media coverage of the Russian-Ukrainian War and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict (2023), the study investigates how Chinese and Western mainstream media depict China’s stance. Based on a self-built corpus of 153 news reports and analyzed via AntConc, the study quantitatively and qualitatively identifies distinct patterns in the use of transitivity processes across the two corpora. The research reveals that Chinese media highlight the outlook for future peace-building initiatives, portraying China as a country …

Enhancing Emotional Vocabulary In Esl Learners Through Corpus-Based Instruction And Bilingual Scaffolding, Udaya Muthyala, Jyothsna Bethala, Banoth Suresh

Journal of English and Applied Linguistics

This study investigates the efficacy of integrating corpus-based tools and bilingual scaffolding to explicitly instruct emotional vocabulary (EV) among secondary school ESL learners. Despite its criticality for interpersonal communication and identity construction, EV remains marginalized in ELT curricula, a research gap driven by the inherent abstractness of affective lexis and a lack of systematic, data-driven frameworks for its instruction. To address this, a quasi-experimental intervention was conducted with 90 Class VIII students at a government high school in Tadepalli, Andhra Pradesh. The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, leveraging Sketch Engine and AntConc to generate contextualized concordance lines, which were further …

Re: Conditional Approval Letter For The Final Silver Bow Creek Conservation Area Materials Management Plan (Dated May 28, 2026), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Third Butte Rmap Biomonitoring (Phase 3) Report, Ramboll, Atlantic Richfield Company

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.