Digital Commons Network^™

Finding The Gut Microbiome Connection To The Risk Of Childhood Obesity Through An Examination Of Gut Microbiota Among Children In Los Angeles, California: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study, Cecille M. Basilio

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between gut microbiota composition and child obesity. The specific aims were to: 1) evaluate the impact of child obesity status on three related outcomes to be assessed by extracting DNA from children's stool samples using 16S rRNA gene sequencing: alpha diversity of gut microbiota composition, Firmicutes: Bacteroidetes ratio, and abundance of SCFA-generating gut microbes between obese and non-obese school children; 2) compare the dietary habits and intakes between obese and non-obese school children; and 3) evaluate the association of body mass index differences in gut microbiota composition between obese and …

Assessing Supply Chain Quality Management Indicators: A Roadmap To Operational Excellence At Al-Zawraa General Company's Altahady Site, Ali Saad Alwan, Nagham Ali Jasim

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This research endeavors to assess and enhance supply chain quality management at the Al-Tahady Site of Al-Zawraa General Company. The primary objective is to evaluate a comprehensive set of supply chain quality management indicators and provide a strategic roadmap for achieving operational excellence. The research problem addressed in this study revolves around the need to improve supply chain quality management practices. Despite the inherent challenges in real-world supply chain research, particularly in data acquisition and information gathering, this study is resolute in its mission. Beyond analysis, the researcher seeks to propose practical application mechanisms to drive tangible benefits for the …

The Impact Of The Sovereign Credit Rating On The Possibility Of Financing External Loans To The Iraqi Economy, Zinah Muayad Mahmood, Emad Mohammed Ali Abdullatif

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

External loans are a source of credit revenue. The process of obtaining it requires determining the degree of credit risk by predicting the financial solvency of the economy to judge its financial ability to pay the principal and interest dues of the loan at the specified maturity date. Considering that ability is a determinant of the creditworthiness of his economy, the extent to which financing can continue with this external credit source and its cost. The government of Iraq faced the difficulty of financing external loans from the international capital markets with its high return due to the lack of …

The Role Of Joint Audit In Reducing Cases Of Financial Default In Banks Listed On The Iraq Stock Exchange, Yahya Raed Al-Salhi, Bushra Fadil Al-Taie

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

The method of joint auditing is not a recent appearance, but it is needed at the present time due to the occurrence of many global problems and crises. The research problem was represented by the increasing cases of financial distress of economic units, especially the collapse of economic units that occurred in the recent global crises. The research was based on the hypothesis that applying The method of joint auditing in economic units helps in reducing cases of financial distress, as the research aimed to measure the extent to which joint auditing can reduce the occurrence of cases of financial …

Measuring The Level Of Strategic Thinking: An Analytical Research In The National Security Advisory, Muhammad Yahya Shamakhi, Khaled Mahdi Saleh

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

The current research derives its significance from its focus on the vital subject of strategic thinking. This topic has attracted the attention of researchers and managers alike, as well as the importance of the researched organization, the National Security Advisory, due to its strategic role in maintaining the country's security and stability. The research problem arises from neglecting the role of strategic thinking in the organization's success. The research aims to identify the level of incorporation of strategic thinking within the National Security Adviser, across its four dimensions. The research included a sample of (90) employees at all administrative levels …

Feasibility Of Establishing And Re-Operation Of Industrial Projects In Iraq Through Import-Substitution Strategy, Durgham Fadhel Kazem, Thaer Mahmoud Rashid Al-Ani

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

The research idea originated from the significance of the industrial sector and its pivotal role in inducing structural and systemic changes at the national economic level. Given the numerous challenges the industrial sector faces in Iraq, many industrial projects have partially or entirely ceased operations. In contrast, state-owned industrial companies have become a burden on the government. Import substitution through manufacturing is considered one of the leading strategies and most vital industrial approaches that have historically catalyzed industrial growth and structural transformations in the economy. This has been evident in the development of countries that initially relied on primitive economic …

Most Rhode Islanders Feel State Headed In Wrong Direction, Disapprove Of Governor Mckee's Job Performance 7/18/2024, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

Rhode Island residents are pessimistic about the direction of the state and cite housing, infrastructure, the economy, and corrupt or incompetent government as Rhode Island's most important problems. Less than one-third of residents, including less than half of Democrats, approve of Daniel McKee's performance as governor. Despite voting on the topic several times roughly every decade for many years, a majority of Rhode Islanders do not have a firm understanding of the meaning of the constitutional convention question on the general election ballot in November. Most Rhode Islanders have used the Washington Bridge or detours since the westbound portion of …

The Affordances Of Translanguaging Moments And Spaces For Multilingual Minority Kuteb Students In Nigeria, Iratishe Reuben Madaki

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Translanguaging research among multilingual students has received considerable attention across different contexts of practice. The most robust contexts in translanguaging research have been the classroom contexts between teacher and students. This study examined the affordances of translanguaging spaces “between class sessions” in school and at home contexts. This study focused on examining translanguaging moments that show the affordances of social spaces and practices of multilingual minority students across home and school contexts. The study was conducted following the translanguaging approach which combines conventional methods including ethnographic methods and newer analytical frameworks such as the ‘moment analysis’ used in this study. …

Using Sistacircle Methodology To Understand The Decision-Making Process Of African American Mothers Of Gifted Children Concerning Where To Enroll Their Children In School, Keishana L. Barnes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Deciding where to enroll their children in educational settings presents African American mothers of gifted children with on-going and multifaceted decisions to navigate. This qualitative study explored the narratives and experiences of African American mothers navigating the educational journeys of their intellectually gifted children. Drawing from personal reflections and existing literature, the research situates itself within the historical context of gifted education in American schools and the disproportionate impact on the African American community. Despite extensive research on disproportionality in gifted education, there remains a gap in the literature focusing on the lived experiences of African American individuals, particularly mothers, …

Lumped Basin Characterization Based On Hydrologic Connectivity, Francesco Dell'aira

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Regional models for peak-flow prediction and other established methods in hydrology, including regional calibration of physically based model parameters and multi-basin training of deep-learning hydrologic models, all rely on lumped basin characterizations. On the other hand, it is known that lumped models are heavily affected by the inherent trade-off between the detail in basin representation and the complexity in hydrologic processes that can be captured. Current lumped methods consider straightforward averages of distributed basin characteristics, which may be overly simplistic in many cases. Indeed, existing lumped descriptors may easily fall short in accounting for system heterogeneity, with the risk that …

Caregiver Attitudes Toward Sexual Behavior And Sex Education For Children With Down Syndrome, Shawna Urban

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative correlational study investigates caregivers’ attitudes toward sexual behavior and sex education for children with Down syndrome, drawing upon the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior. Data was collected from a convenience sample of 112 caregivers. The analysis revealed significant positive associations between caregivers’ attitudes toward sexuality and their perspectives on sex education. Binary logistic regression indicated that higher POS scores predict increased likelihood of endorsing sexual behavior and supporting sex education for children with Down syndrome. Notably, demographic factors such as gender, age, and educational level did not significantly influence caregivers’ decisions regarding sex education support. The …

Relationship Between Sports Participation, Weight Intentions, And Insufficient Sleep On E-Cigarette Use Among U.S. High School Students, Stephanie Deivert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite public health efforts, e-cigarette use among youths persists, posing risks due to high nicotine content and the potential for transitioning to traditional cigarette smoking. Although sports participation has shielded individuals from traditional cigarette use, recent studies revealed a higher susceptibility to e-cigarette use among young athletes, though influencing factors were unexplored. Using the socioecological model, this retrospective cross-sectional study examined the relationship between sports participation, weight intentions, insufficient sleep, and e-cigarette use among U.S. high school students by analyzing 2021 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey data. Binary logistic regression assessed associations between variables. An interaction term examined the moderating …

The Integration Of Social Work Values And Principles In Police Work, Dasha Rhodes, Taylor Geyton, Jam Ost

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Persisting social inequities and injustices were spotlighted in the United States in 2020 after the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. A particular focus on the interactions of police officers and non-violent community members rallied a call to reallocate funds to social services better equipped to handle such situations, aptly named #defundthepolice. Many called for the need and placement of social workers in police agencies to curtail the negative interactions witnessed between police officers and communities of color, specifically with Black Americans. Across the nation, social workers are not always employed or readily available in police organizations. Therefore, instilling …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Challenges And Interventions Involved In Promoting Independence Of Students In Low-Incidence Programs, Allison N. Perlstein

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Special education teachers who provide educational opportunities for students in low-incidence programs within a Southern urban public school system in the United States faced challenges when trying to promote independence. The purpose of this project study was to understand the perceptions of teachers and the approaches they seek to best support their students in low-incidence programs in developing the independence necessary to engage in society. Maslow's theory of motivation was used as the conceptual framework for this project study. How special education teachers perceive their ability and the resources they need to support the independence of students in low-incidence programs …

Risk Of Invasive Waterfowl Interaction With Poultry Production: Understanding Potential For Avian Pathogen Transmission Via Species Distribution Models, Reilly T. Jackson, Percival Matzinger Marshall, Chris R. Burkhart, Julia Schneck, Grant Kelly, Caleb P. Roberts

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza have devastated poultry production across the United States, with more than 77 million birds culled in 2022–2024 alone. Wild waterfowl, including various invasive species, host numerous pathogens, including highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV), and have been implicated as catalysts of disease outbreaks among native fauna and domestic birds. In major poultry-producing states like Arkansas, USA, where the poultry sector is responsible for significant economic activity (>$4 billion USD in 2022), understanding the risk of invasive waterfowl interactions with domestic poultry is critical. Here, we assessed the risk of invasive waterfowl-poultry interaction …

Membrane Vectorial Lipidomic Features Of Coral Host Cells’ Plasma Membrane And Lipid Profiles Of Their Endosymbionts Cladocopium, Tatyana V Sikorskaya, Ekaterina V Ermolenko, Taliya T Ginanova, Andrey V Boroda, Kseniya V Efimova

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The symbiotic relationships between coral animal host and autotrophic dinoflagellates are based on the mutual exchange and tight control of nutritional inputs supporting successful growth. The corals Sinularia heterospiculata and Acropora aspera were cultivated using a flow-through circulation system supplying seawater during cold and warm seasons of the year, then sorted into host cells and symbionts and subjected to phylogenetic, morphological, and advanced lipid analyses. Here we show, that the lipidomes of the dinoflagellates Cladocopium C1/C3 and acroporide-specific Cladocopium hosted by the corals, are determined by lipidomic features of different thermosensitivity and unique betaine- and phospholipid molecular species. Phosphatidylserines and …

Investigating Gene Functions And Single-Cell Expression Profiles Of De Novo Variants In Orofacial Clefts, Toshiyuki Itai, Fangfang Yan, Andi Liu, Yulin Dai, Chihiro Iwaya, Elizabeth J Leslie, Peilin Jia, Xiangning Chen, Junichi Iwata, Zhongming Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Orofacial clefts (OFCs) are common congenital birth defects with various etiologies, including genetic variants. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) annotated several hundred genes involving OFCs. Furthermore, several hundreds of de novo variants (DNVs) have been identified from individuals with OFCs. Some DNVs are related to known OFC genes or pathways, but there are still many DNVs whose relevance to OFC development is unknown. To explore novel gene functions and their cellular expression profiles, we focused on DNVs in genes that were not listed in OMIM. We collected 960 DNVs in 853 genes from published studies and curated these genes, …

Film As An Educational Media In Building Awareness On Wild Animal Conservation (Case Study: Petualangan Sherina 2), Gumelar Setiaji, Melisa Bunga Altamira

Jurnal Vokasi Indonesia

Currently, films are not only a medium for entertainment, but can also be used as a medium for information, persuasion, and even education. Nature conservation is one of the environmental issues that is currently of concern. In a survey conducted by a non-governmental organization, the public paid sufficient attention to protecting biodiversity, flora, and fauna. Wild animal conservation is an issue that will be addressed in this research. The film "Petualangan Sherina 2" is a musical genre film that focuses on the importance of the conservation of wild animals, namely orangutans. This research will discuss how a film can be …

South Africa: Global Perspective Of A Study Abroad Journey, Gustavo Alonso Chamu

History in the Making

travel narrative

Inaugural California Indian Studies And Scholars Association Conference, Gabrielle Velázquez, Lina Tejeda

History in the Making

No abstract provided.

Cartoons To Outrage: The Muhammed’S Face Cartoons And Danish-Iranian Relations, Edgar Noice

History in the Making

This paper delves into the intricacies of the Danish Cartoon Controversy, sparked by the publication of twelve cartoons depicting the Islamic Prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten in 2005. The controversy ignited a global debate on the boundaries of freedom of expression, particularly when it clashes with religious sensitivities. While the Western perspective often champions unlimited freedom of expression, this study seeks to scrutinize the sincerity of such claims. The paper begins by contextualizing the controversy, examining the historical background of cartoons and satire in Iran and the evolving relations between Denmark and Iran up to 2005. It analyzes …

Battle On The Home Front: The Black Uso On Requa Street 1942-1944, Jean Martinez

History in the Making

The intention of this paper is to explore what is currently known about the United Service Organizations (USOs) established for Black enlisted service members during the home front era of World War II (1941-1945). As USO locations provided recreational and support services for military personnel they simultaneously demonstrated steady resistance, resiliency, and agency facing segregation and discrimination. Through activism within the civic and community arenas, paired at times with civil disobedience and militancy, the USO support for Black enlisted members was secured. Though generally not well documented, this topic will concentrate on one USO for Black troops located in Indio, …

A Question Of Womanhood, Ayden Kelly

History in the Making

Ideologies surrounding gender and sexuality have shifted drastically within the past several decades as cultural perspectives broaden to be more inclusive of individuals belonging to communities, all with unique lived experiences. Recent discourses around womanhood and who is considered as “woman enough” have caused intercommunal tensions between White women, women of color, and LGBT+ women. This essay will explore how the rhetoric around who is and who is not a ‘real’ woman has remained the same but not which groups it has targeted, as well as examine the history of the conditional nature of womanhood from the mid-nineteenth to mid-twentieth …

John Otto's Wilderness, Nell Murbarger

Colorado National Monument

Article on John Otto and the discovery and gaining national recognition for Monument Canyon

Decolonizing Queer Epistemology: Boys Love And Cultural Imaginary From The Global Majority, Roland Sintos Coloma

Journal of Queer and Trans Studies in Education

This article aims to decolonize queer epistemology in order to challenge the hegemony of white/eurocentric LGBTQ histories, cultures, and representations as the universal and normalized standard of queer and trans life and sociality. Toward this objective, it analyzes whitestream queer epistemology, and notes its limits that do not account for its inclusions and exclusions, especially in relation to race, geography, and methodological (homo)nationalism. It draws attention to the works of queer and trans theorists, researchers, and educators from the global majority, especially the growing scholarship on LGBTQ education outside of the United States, to point out a significant gap in …

“The Game Was Ruined For Me There:” Examining The Mental Health Byproducts Of The Transfer Portal And Nil On Student-Athletes, Ethan Madden, Brendan O'Hallarn

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Two rule changes have brought seismic changes to collegiate sports in the United States—the right for college athletes to monetize their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), and the Transfer Portal for athletes looking to switch schools. Qualitative interviews with 16 college athletes, explored the mental health byproducts of these new athlete opportunities. The interviews suggest that many athletes are hesitant to participate in NIL due to a lack of guidance. The study also found that college athletes believe entering the Transfer Portal to be a highly stressful experience, comparing the process to being recruited out of high school. However, the …

U.S. News & World Report 2024 Graduate Program Rankings, Unlv & Unr, Madison Dwyer, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Higher Education

This fact sheet presents 2024 graduate program rankings for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and for the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) based on the data published in spring 2024 by U.S. News and World Report. The graduate program categories reported include business, education, engineering, fine arts, law, medicine and health care, sciences and mathematics, and social sciences and humanities.

Using An Evidence-Based Practice Nurse Recognition Practice To Improve Job Satisfaction, Hali Bianchi

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: The project targeted low job satisfaction and high nurse turnover in a Central Florida bone marrow transplant unit, impacting patient care and costs.

PICOT: (P) For registered nurses (RNs) on the bone marrow transplant unit, (I) does implementing an evidence-based practice employee recognition program (C) compared to no employee recognition program, (O) lead to an increase in job satisfaction (T) over 10 weeks?

Evidence: The evidence supported the effectiveness of meaningful recognition programs, such as personalized verbal acknowledgment from leadership, in boosting job satisfaction among nurses.

Intervention: The intervention involved nurse managers using a weekly employee recognition …

Incorporating Use Inspired Design In Providing Safe Transportation Infrastructure For Riti Communities, Roger Chen, Poya Harirchi, Qi Chen, Adrian Archilla, Preston Garcia, Xiazhi Zhang, Shiva Azimi

CSET Project Reports

In this study, we focus on automating road marking extraction from the HDOT MLS point cloud database, managed by Mandli. Mandli is a company specializing in highway data collection, including LiDAR. Mandli has cooperated with various Department of Transportation throughout the United States. Here, we focus on infrastructure elements related to non-motorized travel modes, supporting the ongoing Complete Streets efforts in Hawaii. Point cloud data include different colors that represent differences in elevation and intensity values. Based on a visual inspection, road markings can be observed within these point clouds. The long-term objective of this study is to develop a …

Promoting Positive Traffic Safety Culture In Riti Communities Through Active Engagement: Implementation Guide And Outreach Activities, Jacob Pehrson, Logan Prescott, Ahmed Abdel-Rahim

CSET Project Reports

Rural, Indigenous, Tribal, and Isolated (RITI) communities’ crash data analysis clearly highlights three major areas of concern: prevalence of excessive speed, impaired and distracted driving, and underage driving. Safety-focused educational programs and awareness campaigns have all contributed to a reduction in crashes in urban areas. However, in RITI communities, much more work is still needed. It is important that communities are provided with the proper resources and methods to deliver the appropriate training and educational tools that promote and cause a significant positive change in the traffic safety culture. Through reviewed literature and interviews with tribal community stakeholders, this research …