Digital Commons Network^™

A Spatiotemporal Study Of Environmentally Associated Pulmonary Diseases In Georgia, Jason Raymond Baum

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Exposures to particulate dust matter (PM10 and smaller) from aggregate comminution facilities (ACF) can lead to the onset of environmentally associated pulmonary diseases (EAPDs); acute and chronic asthma (Type I allergic hypersensitivity reaction), chronic pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease (ILD), and lung cancer. In this environmental epidemiological research study, three primary spatial and spatiotemporal research questions related to nonoccupational exposures from 118 facilities across Georgia were evaluated. Secondary data analysis was conducted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2018–2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Metropolitan Divisions to …

Rekonstruksi Pengawasan Peradilan Substantif Atas Perjanjian Penundaan Penuntutan Korporasi Dalam Perspektif Civic Trust Dan Reintegrative Shaming, Merlin Swantamalo Magna, Ariesta Wibisono Anditya

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

Law Number 20 of 2025 on the Criminal Procedure Code introduces the Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) as a special mechanism for corporate offenders. Article 328(8) grants judges substantive authority to assess proportionality, the impact on the national economy, and the suspect's ability to meet the agreed conditions—yet provides no clear parameters. This absence risks legal uncertainty, judicial formalism, and abuse of power, while colliding with the presumption of innocence within Indonesia's civil-law tradition, in which judges have traditionally played a passive role. This study aims to construct a dogmatic framework for judges' substantive judicial-supervision authority in the DPA mechanism. Employing …

Cso’S Strategic Approaches For Improvement Of Health Services: A Case Of Ccbrt Hospital Dar Es Salaam Region, Tanzania, Andrew Abia Mushi, Emelda Kivumbi Lwena

BISNIS & BIROKRASI: Jurnal Ilmu Administrasi dan Organisasi

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) play an increasingly important role in complementing government efforts to improve access to and quality of health services, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. However, limited empirical attention has been given to the strategic approaches through which CSOs contribute to health service improvement in Tanzania. This study explored the strategic approaches employed by the Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) to improve health services in Tanzania. The study adopted a qualitative approach and a descriptive research design. Twenty respondents were purposively and conveniently selected from a study population of 100 participants. Data were collected through …

Consumer Perceptions Of Diversity, Equity And Inclusion In A Heritage Beauty Branding: Pathways To Brand Image, Connection, Love, And Loyalty, Nuzul Riska, Anni Rahimah, Kadarisman Hidayat

BISNIS & BIROKRASI: Jurnal Ilmu Administrasi dan Organisasi

In an increasingly competitive and socially conscious marketplace, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives are emerging as powerful strategic tools for brand differentiation and consumer engagement. This study investigates the influence of DEI-driven marketing strategies on brand image and brand connection, and their subsequent impact on brand loyalty, with brand love examined as a moderating variable within the beauty industry. Employing a quantitative, explanatory research design, data were collected from 250 respondents using purposive sampling and analyzed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that DEI significantly enhances both brand image and brand connection. While brand …

Language For Learning: Examining Teacher Language In Reading Instruction, Madeleine Mejia, Amber Bechard

Journal of Research Initiatives

Teacher language plays a key role in literacy instruction because it shows what educators notice about students’ reading, how they interpret performance, and what they see as important for learning. However, common instructional phrases can sometimes reflect assumptions about what students know or can do or miss important parts of reading development. This article looks at teacher language as a way to reflect on these assumptions, especially when teaching students with dyslexia or those who are bilingual or multilingual. Using research on literacy development, teacher knowledge, classroom talk, and humanizing teaching, the article introduces the Language for Learning Tool. This …

Reframing Dissertation Committee Practice: A Student-Centered Conceptual Framework For Doctoral Education, Roberto Victor Rodríguez Rivera

Journal of Research Initiatives

Dissertation committees play a key role in shaping the direction, pace, and outcomes of doctoral study, but their function as a unified structure for guidance and judgment is not well understood. Although research covers supervision, examiner feedback, ethics, power, and dissertation examination, these topics are often studied separately. This article brings together both foundational and recent research to rethink dissertation committees as academic structures that adapt their support, oversight, ethical practices, and evaluation throughout the dissertation process. The article makes three main contributions: it clarifies how committee practice is conceptually fragmented, reviews research on supervision, feedback, ethics, and examination, and …

Confidence Intervals As A Quantcrit Method: Reframing Longitudinal Educational Data Through Estimation, Uncertainty, And Within-Group Analysis, Jamaal Young, Jemimah Young, Kristian Edosomwan

Journal of Research Initiatives

Quantitative Critical Race Theory (QuantCrit) calls researchers to reconsider not only what quantitative analyses report, but also how analytic choices reproduce or disrupt racialized ways of knowing. This methods-focused article develops confidence interval analysis as a practical statistical strategy within a QuantCrit methodological framework. Confidence intervals are not inherently critical or anti-racist. Their value for QuantCrit emerges from how researchers use estimation, uncertainty, comparison, visualization, and interpretation. We demonstrate this approach with National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Long-Term Trend mathematics data for Black students ages 9, 13, and 17 from 1978 to 2012. Rather than treating White performance as …

Brilliance Beyond The Margins: Centering The Voice And Experiences Of A Black Pre-Service Teacher, Samantha L. Strachan

Journal of Research Initiatives

As school districts across the United States work to increase teacher diversity, Black students in teacher preparation programs often face major challenges that can make it hard to complete their training and become teachers. The ongoing loss of Black educators highlights the need to better understand their stories and perspectives, especially those of Black pre-service teachers. This qualitative case study focuses on the experiences of a high-achieving Black female pre-service teacher, “Julia,” and follows her journey through teacher preparation. By sharing her story, the study looks at how Black pre-service teachers like Julia find ways to continue and succeed in …

Removing Barringer: University Renaming Governance, Campus Racial Climate, And The Limits Of Symbolic Reform, Charletta H. Barringer-Brown, Daniel N. Brown

Journal of Research Initiatives

University renaming is often seen as either a necessary moral correction or a less significant symbolic reform. This article examines renaming as a matter of higher education governance. It analyzes the removal of Paul Brandon Barringer’s name from honorific spaces at the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech through a qualitative documentary comparative case study. A contextual policy scan of the University of Richmond, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Oregon State University situates the two primary cases within a wider field of naming-governance design. Guided by critical toponymy, institutional theory, policy-decoupling scholarship, organizational-routines theory, and campus-racial-climate …

Human-Centered Ai Governance In K–12 Education: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Policy Gaps In Massachusetts School Districts, Simone Elias, Noran Moffett, Jeremy Womack, Richard Brutti

Journal of Research Initiatives

Artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI tools have rapidly permeated K–12 education, outpacing governance structures and raising urgent concerns about equity, student data privacy, and academic integrity (Eutsler et al., 2026; OECD, 2023). Although a growing body of scholarship proposes multi-level AI governance models for education, empirical evidence on implementing these frameworks at the district policy level remains limited. This article contributes to the field by first synthesizing and adapting a K–12 AI governance framework based on peer-reviewed and policy literature, structured around macro-meso-micro levels and six pillars: ethical and equity-centered use, data governance and privacy, teaching and academic integrity, …

Living Between Lines: A Conceptual Paper For An Empirical Study Exploring The Impact Of Gendered Racial Socialization On Black Women In Emerging Adulthood, Danielle C. Hickman

Journal of Research Initiatives

Abstract

Black women in emerging adulthood (ages 18–29) navigate the intersection of racial and gender socialization processes that are largely absent from mainstream developmental and psychological research. Existing scholarship often examines race and gender separately, thereby overlooking the compounded psychological effects experienced by Black emerging adult women (BEAW) as they negotiate cultural scripts such as the Strong Black Woman and Angry Black Woman. This conceptual paper outlines a research framework for an empirical study examining the relationship between gendered-racial socialization and psychological well-being among BEAW, and the extent to which cultural scripts moderate this relationship. Grounded in an integrated theoretical …

Oral History As A Tool For First-Year Student Success, Justin Willis, Saul Araujo

Journal of Research Initiatives

First-year college students often face significant challenges as they transition into higher education, particularly when balancing academic responsibilities with employment. Many students work out of financial necessity, which can increase stress, limit campus engagement, and negatively affect academic performance and well-being. This qualitative case study explores how oral history methods can support first-year college students as they adjust to the demands of balancing education and work. Guided by Tinto’s Model of Student Retention and Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, the study examines how firsthand narratives from individuals who have navigated similar challenges can foster reflection, resilience, and practical skill development. The …

Grit, Mindset, And Academic Outcomes Among Nontraditional Online College Students, David W. Franklin, Heidi L. Andrade, Jason Bryer, Angela M. Lui

Journal of Research Initiatives

Grit and mindset have gained prominence in educational discourse; however, empirical evidence suggests they predict student success only minimally. Existing research on grit and mindset has several gaps, including insufficient focus on retention, online learners, and nontraditional student populations. The present study examines the relationships between grit, mindset, and academic outcomes among two samples of nontraditional students enrolled in online colleges. Utilizing survey data from the Diagnostic Assessment and Achievement of College Skills (DAACS) project, the study analyzes responses from 9,276 predominantly nontraditional undergraduate students at two online institutions in the United States. Findings reveal that although grit, its two …

From Silos To Systems In Higher Education: Doctoral Students’ Conceptualizations Of Faculty And Staff Collaboration In Academic Planning, Linda Wilson-Jones, Simone Elias

Journal of Research Initiatives

Collaboration is increasingly recognized as central to student success and institutional effectiveness in higher education. This qualitative study investigates doctoral students’ conceptualizations of faculty and staff collaboration in academic planning. Data were collected from 22 written responses in a doctoral-level program course. Through reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006, 2021), five interrelated themes emerged: (1) holistic student support, (2) shared institutional vision and goal alignment, (3) complementary expertise and role interdependence, (4) communication as quality assurance, and (5) collaborative culture as an institutional asset. The findings indicate that collaboration functions as organizational infrastructure that aligns academic and administrative systems …

Digital Learning And Digital Literacy: Conceptual Distinctions, Theoretical Frameworks, And Educational Implications Across The Educational Continuum, Simone Elias, Linda Wilson-Jones, Richard Brutti

Journal of Research Initiatives

The terms digital learning and digital literacy recur frequently in educational policy and institutional discourse. Yet peer-reviewed scholarship shows they are conceptually distinct constructs operating at fundamentally different levels of analysis. This article examines the theoretical foundations, definitional genealogies, empirical interdependencies, and grade-band and postsecondary manifestations of both constructs across the full educational continuum, from kindergarten through Grade 12 and into undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral education. Drawing on literature across leading educational technology journals, the article argues that digital learning constitutes a pedagogical modality, the structured, technology-mediated environment through which instruction is delivered.

In contrast, digital literacy is a multidimensional …

The Importance Of Community-Based Teaching, Casper Jonker, Abdulaziz Alawadhi, Guy Lambourn, Zoe Brookes, Marina Bozic, James Puryer

Peninsula Dental School

‘Dental deserts’ present clear challenges, but can they also offer unique opportunities for dental education and patient care?

The Moderating Effect Of Digital Literacy On The Relationship Between Ai Interaction Quality And Consumer Emotional Engagement, Ali Thamer Ali Al-Ibadi

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

As artificial Intelligence (AI) is having an increasing influence on the consumer-brand relationship, empirical evidence of the effects of AI-powered real-time communication on emotional brand engagement over time is scarce. Based on the Digital Emotional Brand Engagement (DEBE) model consisting of four outcome dimensions (Affective Engagement, Cognitive Engagement, Behavioral Engagement, Identification, and Emotional Attachment). The study proposes and empirically tests a model of four dimensions of AI interactions (Responsiveness and Availability, Personalization, Conversational Quality, Problem Resolution Efficiency). A descriptive-correlational quantitative design was adopted, and a sample of 400 consumers who had recently used AI-powered customer service was drawn. Multiple regression …

Key Factors Affecting Arable Land Areas In Iraq: An Analytical Economic Study (1990–2021), Duaa Emad Ahmed, Osamah Kadhim Jbara, Kais Hassan Alwan

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This paper aims to measure and analyze the factors affecting arable land areas in Iraq during the period (1990–2021), to determine the nature of the relationship between these factors in the short and long term. The study analyzed the relationship between the quantity of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers used in agriculture, the volume of water inflow from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and investment allocations for land reclamation projects. It evaluated their impact on arable land areas in Iraq. Results using the ARDL methodology indicated a long-term cointegration relationship between the variables through the bounds test. The F-value reached 7.597. …

Diagnosing Influential Observations Via Hybrid Secretary–Osprey Optimization Algorithm (Hsooa) In Gamma Regression Models For Fasting Blood Glucose Data, Luay Adil Abduljabbar, Sabah Manfi Ridha

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Influence diagnostics are essential for identifying influential observations that may affect the estimation accuracy of regression models. Classical diagnostic measures such as Cook's Distance and DFFITS may become less effective in complex or highly dispersed datasets. In this study, a new Hybrid Secretary–Osprey Optimization Algorithm (HSOOA), based on the integration of the Secretary Bird Optimization Algorithm (SBOA) and the Osprey Optimization Algorithm (OOA), is proposed for influential observation detection in the Gamma Regression Model (GRM). This optimization framework successfully achieves an optimal balance between global exploration and local exploitation. The proposed HSOOA framework was applied to a real medical dataset …

Extension Of Range: First Report Of Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros Albirostris) In Pakistan, Ghulam Rasool Awan, Muhammad Altaf, Abdul Majid Khan, Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Junaid, Altaf Hussain Nerajo

Journal of Bioresource Management

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species last classified the Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) as "Least Concern" (LC) in 2026. This study aims to establish a new provincial record of the Oriental Pied Hornbill in Pakistan, close a major distributional gap, update the species' national presence map, and improve our knowledge of its migratory relationships and habitat use within Pakistan's ecosystems. On 5^th July 2016, field surveys for bird photography were carried out along the Ravi River in Lahore, Pakistan. The Oriental Pied Hornbill belongs to the Bucerotidae family and is a large, canopy-dwelling bird. Among …

Evaluation Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Profiles In Fermented Artemisia Annua Leaf Extract, Mabitine Daniel Malo, Ohemu Adaofoyi Isaiah, Igaznda Terhemba James, Obamuwe Rebecca Joy, Ugber Erdoo Charity, Itodo Monday Christopher

Journal of Bioresource Management

This study evaluated the presence, profile and concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the fermented leaf extract of Artemisia annua, a medicinal plant widely used for its antimalarial and skin-benefiting properties. Given the plant’s increased use in Nigerian traditional medicine, this research examines how fermentation a process known to enhance bioactive compound availability may influence PAH levels, which are of concern due to their carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic effects. The A. annua leaves were fermented using Saccharomyces cerevisiae cultures and subsequently analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to detect and quantify PAHs. The analysis identified 24 distinct PAH …

A Single-Step Plate Method For The Screening Of Xyl-A Mutant Libraries Based On Gene Expression, Bilqees Fatima, Muhammad Mohsin Javed

Journal of Bioresource Management

A single-step plate method is described for the screening of transformants of cloned gene xyl-A encoding xylose isomerase. It is rapid, inexpensive, easy to perform, and more specific, as the selection is based on xyl-A expression level. The crucial composition of the plate medium comprised agar, buffer, nutrients, co-factor, substrate, inducer, antibiotic, and an indicator, i.e., 2, 3, 5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC). Transformed cells of E. coli BL21 (DE3) with a plasmid (pET21(a)⁺+xyl-A), were exclusively capable of growing, isomerizing the substrate, and producing deep-red formazan by reducing TTC, whereas the untransformed cells and cells containing a …

Bioinformatics-Driven Structural And Functional Characterization Of Caffeine Synthase (Ccs1), Asia Khalil, Muhammad Naveed, Raja Muhammad Ahmad, Sania Saeed, Ayesha Hameed, Ayman Iqbal, Fakhra Nazir

Journal of Bioresource Management

Caffeine synthase (CCS1; EC 2.1.1.160) is a S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM; S-adenosyl-L-methionine) dependent N-methyltransferase that executes the final methylation steps of caffeine biosynthesis in coffee, tea, and related plants. While paraxanthine can act as an efficient substrate, it contributes to a comparatively minor branch in the overall pathway. We conducted an integrated in silico analysis of CCS1, covering sequence retrieval, structure prediction, 3D modeling, and mutation assessment. Secondary structure was inferred using PSIPRED; physicochemical indices were computed via AA-PROP; 3D models were generated by I-TASSER and evaluated by Verify3D; and missense effects were prioritized using PolyPhen-2, PROVEAN, I-Mutant, and PhD-SNP. Taken together, …

The Effect Of Alpha-Lipoic Acid On Sperm Cryobiology And Post-Thaw Quality Of Sperm In Livestock Species, Kashif Ali Malak, Nazar Ali Korejo, Hira Sajjad Talpur, Asmatullah Kaka, Atif Ali Malak, Muhammad Aqeel, Rasool Bux

Journal of Bioresource Management

The cryopreservation of semen is a prerequisite for artificial insemination, germplasm banking and the global distribution of elite livestock breeding. However, spermatozoa are particularly sensitive to cooling and freezing/thawing processes due to the presence of large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids in their plasma membranes and limited cytoplasmic antioxidant stores. An increase in reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, acrosomal injury and DNA fragmentation occurs due to stress associated with cryopreservation, which results in the lowering of motility as well as viability and post-thaw low quality of sperm. Alpha-lipoic acid is a natural disulfide compound that acts as a …

Carbon Sequestration Potential Of Urban Green Spaces In Guinea Savanna Area Of Nigeria, Alexander Terdoo Akighirga, Babatunde Saheed Bada, Abiodun Olusegun Oladoye, Benard Bunde Meer, Dau Henry Japheth

Journal of Bioresource Management

Rapid urbanization and associated emissions have increased the need to quantify the carbon-storage role of urban green spaces. This study assessed the carbon sequestration potential of roadside tree corridors in Makurdi, within Nigeria’s Guinea Savanna Zone. In this study, sequestration potential denotes standing above-ground carbon stock and carbon dioxide-equivalent stock rather than an annual rate. Six 2 km road segments were purposively selected, and all live trees with diameter at breast height ≥10 cm within a 2 m-wide band on both sides were inventoried, covering 4.8 ha. Stem diameters at the base, middle and upper sections and total height were …

Multivariate Ecological Assessment Of Flora Of Village Karri Haider, District Tank, Kp, Numan Khan, Muhammad Azeem, Muhammad Adnan Hamza, Muhammad Aleem, Arshad Rasool, Ammara Wakeel, Sehrish Sadia

Journal of Bioresource Management

Spatial and temporal patterns of vegetation change are influenced by multiple factors, including the physical environment, land-use history, prior disturbance, and initial vegetation composition. The primary aim of this study was to understand floristic vegetation features, species diversity, and the classification of plant communities in Village Karri Haider, District Tank, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Samples were collected from each transect using quadrats of 1 m × 1 m for herbs. Soil from three quadrats was mixed to make composite samples, and soil elements were quantified through laboratory analyses. Two surveys were conducted from July to December, 2023. In the first survey, …

Ecological And Public Health Consequences Of Sand Mining In Aquatic Ecosystems: A Systematic Review, Uduak Sylvanus Jacob, Isangedighi Asuquo Isangedighi, Olusola Abayomi Akangbe, Emmanuel Dami Omogbemi

Journal of Bioresource Management

The persistent exploitation of the aquatic ecosystem, driven by increasing demand for aquatic resources, including construction-grade sand, is evidenced by hydrological and geomorphological degradation of the aquatic ecosystem, with severe negative consequences on the fauna and flora communities. The rising global demand for sand and inefficient mining regulations have resulted in indiscriminate and illegal sand mining globally. However, developing an effective policy framework for sustained river sand mining requires local, regional, and global data (both qualitative and quantitative) on the status, drivers and implications of sand mining. This paper uses a systematic literature review approach to compile the ecological and …

Establishing Reference Values Of Haematological And Biochemical Blood Parameters In Kundhi Buffalo, Jahan Zaib Ahmed, Jamila Soomro, Moolchand Malhi, Mansoor Tariq, Saba Parveen, Abdul Salam Khoso

Journal of Bioresource Management

This study aims to establish haematological, biochemical parameters of healthy Kundhi buffalo calves from different areas of Hyderabad, Pakistan, under field conditions. The study was conducted on one hundred twenty (120) buffalo calves of both sexes, ranging in age from 03 to 12 months were chosen at random and divided into three age groups: 03-06 months, 07-09 months and10-12 months with both males and females represented in each group. Female calves from 07-09 months had the highest levels of hematological parameters such as hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, white blood cell count, red blood cell count and platelets count, where …

Bio-Oil Production From Palm Kernel Shell By Pyrolysis: Feedstock Characterization And Potential For Sustainable Transportation Fuel Production, Monday Ejiga, Helen Olayinka Ogunsuyi, Taiwo Mary Oriyomi, Ayodele Adekunle Faiyetole

Journal of Bioresource Management

Transportation energy constitutes a substantial share of global energy consumption, and its associated contribution to emissions and, by extension, climate change, necessitates intensified efforts toward the development of sustainable transportation fuels. This study investigated the suitability of Palm Kernel Shell (PKS) biomass for pyrolytic bio-oil production as a potential precursor for transportation biofuels. Laboratory-scale pyrolysis at 450-500 °C produced bio-oil, while proximate analysis (wt.%) showed low moisture (5.59), moderate fixed carbon (20.11), high volatile matter (66.25), and relatively high ash (8.05) contents. Ultimate analysis (wt.%) revealed 49.25 carbon, 5.17 hydrogen, 43.90 oxygen, 0.79 nitrogen, and 0.89 sulphur, with Van Krevelen …

Distribution And Diversity Of Ponyfishes (Perciformes, Leiognathidae) In The Waters Of Sonmiani’S Bay, Balochistan, Pakistan, Noor Hawa, Noor Us Saher

Journal of Bioresource Management

The current research was conducted during October 2020 to September 2021 in bay waters of Sonmiani, Balochistan as aimed to fill the paucity of diversity and distribution of research for the bay waters. Monthly fish samples were collected using gill net and beach seine during high and low tide. In the present study, out of nine species, the six species were identified as a new report species belongs to Leiognathidae family. Secutor interruptus (N=132) was the most abundant species whereas the least abundant species collected during the study period was Karalla daura (N=1). Highest diversity (1.37) was estimated during the …