Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of Media Literacy In Shaping Campus Student Leaders’ Perceptions Of Media Activism, Online Risks, And Social Support, Srivi Ramasubramanian, Minnie Mcmillian, Shumaila Bhatti, Shannon Burth, Julius Matthew Riles, Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz, Melody Wilson

Media Studies - All Scholarship

Campus activism by student leaders has historically played a significant role in social movements. Within contemporary contexts, media is an important site through which campus student leaders raise awareness, share relevant information, distribute online petitions, and shape public discourses on various social issues. Media literacy is an essential skill for student leaders to be effective in their activist initiatives and be able to cope with the inevitable pushback through trolling and cyberbullying that such activism would likely bring up. This survey (N = 855) with college student leaders across three universities explores how they rate themselves on media literacy skills, …

“He Will Always Love Me”: Authentic Romance And Reciprocal Love In Otome Games, Elena Yifei Zhao, Nick Bowman

Media Studies - All Scholarship

This study investigates how players construct and articulate emotionally meaningful relationships in otome games. Drawing from 293 open-ended responses from Chinese players, a thematic analysis identified six recurring themes: authentic romance, companionship, shared experience, integration into daily life, game features, and personal growth. The most dominant theme, authentic romance, reveals that players often describe otome boyfriends as emotionally responsive partners who provide validation, support, and affection. Functional descriptions of gameplay mechanics were notably disconnected from other themes (primarily emotional engagement themes). A follow-up analysis of the most popular otome games in the same …

Assessing Interactions Between Wild Host Plants And Stemborer Species In East Africa, Elie Ntirenganya, Venuste Nsengimana, Bonoukpoè Mawuko Sokame, Simon Boniface Boni, Yoseph Assefa, Janvier Uwayezu, Muluken Goftishu

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Lepidopteran stemborers are among the most destructive pests of maize, sorghum, and sugarcane in Africa. Yet, data on their species composition and host range in Rwanda remain limited. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of stemborer diversity, seasonal dynamics, and altitudinal distribution across eastern (low altitude), central (mid-altitude), and northern (high altitude) Rwanda. Surveys were conducted during both the rainy (maize growing) and dry seasons of 2023–2024, targeting infested maize fields and surrounding wild vegetation. A total of 2691 stemborer individuals were recovered from nine host plants, with 1474 (54.8%) from wild and fodder vegetation and 1217 (45.2%) from …

Economic Value Of Agro-Meteorological Services: A Review Of The International Literature, Joseph Manzvera, Kwabena Asomanin Anaman

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Introduction:

The increasing frequency and intensity of climate-induced extreme weather events, such as droughts, have significantly reduced agricultural productivity worldwide. Enhancing access to agro-meteorological services can mitigate these impacts by improving farmers’ decision-making and adaptive capacity. However, their economic value remains poorly understood, especially in African countries where meteorological services are provided as public goods. Demonstrating their value is critical to stimulate investment and strengthen climate-resilient agriculture.

Methods:

This study reviews and synthesises empirical evidence on the economic value of agro-meteorological services through a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of international studies. Both peer-reviewed and grey literature were analysed to …

Dietary Responses Of Taste Receptor Genes To Plant-Based Diets In Farmed Fish: A Literature Review, Leonildo Dos Anjo Viagem, Jean Nepomuscene Hakizimana, Cyrus Rumisha, Brunno Da Silva Cerozi, Gerald Misinzo

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Taste receptor genes, particularly those in the bitter (tas2r) and umami/sweet (tas1r) families, are critical in regulating chemosensory perception and feeding behavior, influencing fish’s acceptance of plant-based diets. This review synthesizes the current research on how these genes respond to plant-based diets in farmed fish. A comprehensive search of scientific databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar, was conducted to identify relevant studies. Plant-based diets modulate gene expression, receptor activity, and signaling pathways, enabling fish to adapt to alternative feeds. The findings of the studies analyzed in this review show that plant ingredients affect fish taste receptor …

Gut And Blood Microbiota Of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) Reared With Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa) And Challenged With Escherichia Coli And Vibrio Cholerae In Aquaponic Systems, Ang´Elica Adiaç˜ Ao Jossefa, Leonildo Dos Anjo Viagem, Brunno Da Silva Cerozi, Sebastian Wilson Chenyambuga

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Aquaponics, a bio-integrated system that combines fish farming and vegetable cultivation, has gained significant attention due to its rapid expansion and potential for sustainable food production. In aquaponics, along with plants and fish, both beneficial and harmful microorganisms are also present. This study was conducted to assess the microbiota diversity of Nile tilapia reared with lettuce in aquaponic systems, with a focus on food safety implications. A total of 144 Nile tilapia juveniles with an average initial weight of 30.7 ± 0.03 g were randomly stocked and allocated to three treatments, each with three replicates. In treatment one, the fish …

Examining The Role Of Agroecology In Food Security Prediction: Evidence From Burkina Faso Using Machine Learning Methods, Theodore Nikiema, Pamela Giselle Katic, Sylvain Kpenavoun Chogou, Eugene C. Ezin

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Background

Food insecurity affects a large proportion of the world's population, with enormous disparities to the disadvantage of low-income countries, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa. In this context, public decision-makers, funders, and NGOs urgently need streamlined indicators on households in precarious situations to better orient their policies and aid. However, existing food security monitoring tools focus on isolated dimensions of the problem, and some remain static. We aim to fill these gaps by focusing on a composite metric of food security to explore associations and identify variables with predictive relevance for food security outcomes using machine learning techniques.

Methodology

This …

Improving Accuracy Of Wind Speed Forecasted With Power Law And Multiple Layer Perceptron: A Case Study Of Aneho, A Coastal Area Of Togo, Maklewa Agoundedemba, Raphael Nyenge, Nicholas Musila, Kicoun Jean-Yves N’Zi Toure, Chang Ki Kim, Hyun-Goo Kim

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Wind speed forecasting is critical for optimizing wind energy generation, especially in regions with complex and variable weather patterns. This study focuses on improving the accuracy of wind speed forecasting using Multiple Layer Perceptron (MLP) models, with specific application to Aneho, a coastal area in Togo. The Power Law (PL) extrapolation or interpolation method is commonly used to estimate wind speeds at different heights. However, PL tends to show significant performance variability, particularly in periods with complex wind conditions. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of the PL method and enhance it using MLP for bias correction. We used …

Effect Of Diets Containing Soybean Or Seaweed (Kappaphycus Sp.) On Growth, Feed Utilization And Nutrient Digestibility In Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus), Leonildo Dos Anjo Viagem, Jean Nepomuscene Hakizimana, Cyrus Rumisha, Gerald Misinzo, Brunno Da Silva Cerozi

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Aquaculture is rapidly expanding, with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) being a key freshwater species. Rising fishmeal (FM) costs and environmental concerns have increased interest in sustainable alternative protein sources. This study evaluated the effects of diets containing soybean (SB) or Kappaphycus sp. on the growth, feed efficiency and nutrient digestibility of Nile tilapia (O. niloticus). Four dietary treatments were tested over a 62-day feeding trial: FM diet, a diet containing SB, Kappaphycus sp. (seaweed [SW]) and a natural meal (NM) serving as a negative control. Diets were formulated to be isoproteic (360 g/kg) and isocaloric (3600 kcal/kg). Growth performance, feed …

Agroclimatic Sensing, Communication, And Computational Systems-Based Methods And Technologies For Precision Irrigation Management: Current State And Prospects, Aminata Sarr, Abhilash K. Chandel, Lamine Diop Lamine Diop, Yrébégnan Moussa Soro, Alain K. Tossa, Smrutilipi Hota, Arunachalam Manimozhian

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Agriculture uses most of the world’s fresh water. Given that the worldwide population is expanding at an alarming rate, more land cultivation is apparently in demand. As a result, much more water would be required to irrigate cultivable lands. However, fresh water is becoming scarce at a faster rate due to climate uncertainties and over-exploitation. Several controlled irrigation techniques, such as drip and sprinkler irrigation, have been introduced to safeguard water resources. However, these techniques do not readily meet crop water demands and often end up causing overapplication of water. Under these circumstances, smart precision irrigation is the best solution. …

Assessment Of The Life Cycle Of Photovoltaic Solar Technologies For Sustainable Energy Transitions: Implications For Climate Policy And Low-Carbon System Integration, Wakiang Emile Latchiba, Sebastian Waita, Julius M. Mwabora

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

The rapid expansion of photovoltaic (PV) deployment demands integrated environmental and economic evaluation of emerging technologies. This study compares crystalline silicon (c-Si), perovskite, and hybrid perovskitesilicon tandem PV systems using a cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) combined with Techno-economic Analysis (TEA) to measure environmental impacts, resource efficiency, and cost performance. Environmental indicators include life cycle greenhouse gas emissions, total energy demand, water use, and overall impact, while economic performance is assessed through levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). Sensitivity analysis explores the effects of energy payback time (EPBT), material efficiency, and perovskite stability. Results show manufacturing as the main hotspot, contributing …

Effects Of Biochar Produced From Different Feedstocks And Organic Fertilizers On Soil Properties And Maize (Zea Mays L.) Production In The Northern Part Of Rwanda, Charles Lwanga Twagiramungu, Bobe Bedadi, Claver Ngaboyisonga, Concorde Nsengumuremyi, David Fangueiro

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

This study applied biochar derived from different local feedstocks and organic fertilizers (OF) on contrasting acidic soils, Andosol and Nitisol, in order to investigate their effects on selected soil properties and maize growth and yield parameters. A split plot design was employed, with treatments being factorial combinations of OF (control without OF (OF0), cow manure (OF1), chicken manure (OF2), and compost (OF3)) as a main plot factor and biochar (no biochar applied (B0), maize straw biochar (B1), eucalyptus biochar (B2), pinus biochar (B3)) as a sub-plot factor. An amelioration in soil properties was observed in treated plots compared to the …

Forecasting Future Adoption Rates Of Agroecological Innovations Using Machine Learning: Perspectives From Burkina Faso’S 45 Provinces From 2010 To 2020, Theodore Nikiema, Pamela Giselle Katic, Issaka Abdou Razakou Kiribou, Sylvain Kpenavoun Chogou, Eugene C. Ezin

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Implementation of agroecological innovations tends to be long-term processes, withthe practices of one year often linked to those of previous years. However, previousstudies have focused on understanding drivers of adoption at farm level, with adoptionmeasured at a point in time. In this study, we use a decade of panel data from thePermanent Agricultural Survey in Burkina Faso from 2010 to 2020 and machine learningapproaches, to model adoption rates of agroecological innovations at the provinciallevel as an autoregressive process. This modeling approach allows us to exploit the timeseries nature of our dataset to forecast future adoption rates. Our results showcase thepotential …

Occurrence And Levels Of Multiple Veterinary Antibiotics In Broiler Chicken Processed And Sold In Southern Mozambique, Noemia Andre Mugabe, Jamal Kussaga, Abdulsudi Issa-Zacharia

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Antibiotic residues in chicken meat pose a health risk to the general public, particularly to sensitive consumers. The aim of this study was to determine the level of antibiotic residues in on-the-market dressed chicken in the Southern Region of Mozambique. A total of 160 samples were randomly collected from eight markets located in five districts in the provinces of Maputo, Gaza, and Inhambane. The residues of β-lactams, quinolones, tetracyclines, and sulfonamides in chicken breast muscle were separated, identified, and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), coupled with ultraviolet light (UV–VIS). Results revealed that 26.9% of the analyzed samples displayed detectable …

Osteogenic Differentiation Properties Of Blgfs/Odex Hydrogel Doped With Collagen Derived From Chambo Tilapia Fish Skin, Bhahat Lawlley Zimba, Xiaohan Yang, Mwemezi Rwiza, Elingarami Sauli, Shenqi Wang

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Background

Bone defects caused by trauma, congenital disorders and degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis remain a major clinical challenge, especially in developing regions. Although bone grafting is the current gold standard for treating bone defects, it faces limitations, including donor site morbidity, limited availability and immune rejection. This study developed and evaluated a novel hybrid biomaterial composed of bovine β-lactoglobulin fibrils (BLGFs), oxidized dextran (ODEX) and collagen (COL) extracted from Chambo tilapia fish skin for bone tissue engineering applications.

Methods

BLGFs were synthesized from whey protein, while ODEX was produced by oxidizing dextran. Three biomaterials–COL, BLGFs/ODEX and BLGFs/ODEX/COL–were synthesized and …

Functionalized Blgfs/Odex Hydrogel Scaffold Incorporating Oreochromis Lidole Skin Collagen For Bone Tissue Regeneration, Bhahat Lawlley Zimba, Xiaohan Yang, Mwemezi Rwiza, Elingarami Sauli, Shenqi Wang

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Background: Bones provide support to the body and protect vital internal organs. Bones have the capacity to repair minor defects, but this ability is substantially impaired in large defects. Mineralization, which is an essential stage of osteogenesis during bone defect repair, occurs through the deposition of calcium phosphate crystals to form the structural framework of bone tissue. In the present study, BLGFs/ODEX/COL hydrogel scaffolds were synthesized and characterized to determine their osteogenic differentiation capabilities. The hydrogel scaffolds were also applied to bone defect in SD rats and the regeneration of bone tissue was assessed. Methods: Whey protein was used to …

Quantifying Power Quality In Stand-Alone Minigrids Using Fuzzy Power Quality Indices: A Case Of Illaut Minigrid In Sub-Saharan Africa, D. E D. E. Nkolokosa, Sebastian Waita, Mutugi Kiruki, Walbermark Marque Dos Santos

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Recently the concept of power quality in stand-alone minigrids is gaining wide recognition. The inherent uncertainties and dynamic operating conditions of the decentralised energy systems have promoted calls for increased research activities in power quality assessment and improvements. This study proposes an innovative approach for quantifying power quality in stand-alone minigrids. The existing conventional power quality indices have limited operational capacity; hence, they require improvement in terms of accuracy, reliability and versatility. The proposed methodology incorporates a hierarchical evaluation index comprising harmonic distortion, frequency fluctuation, voltage variation, dips and interruptions. Results indicate that interruptions got the lowest power index (0), …

Reliability-Aware Federated Ordinal Learning For Weekly Irrigation Management Zone Prediction On Edge Nodes, Rehema Mwawado, Jimmy Nsenga, Marco Zennaro, Damien Hanyurwimfura, Antonios Morellos, Muhammad Qaswar, Abdul Mounem Mouazen

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

The vision of smart agriculture depends on systems that can autonomously integrate distributed sensor data to support on-farm decisions such as precision irrigation and nutrient management. In variable-rate irrigation (VRI), this requires timely, high-resolution information to generate management zones that adapt to within-field variability throughout the season. However, current practice often relies on static zone maps and centralized processing, both of which are poorly suited to dynamic field conditions where sensors may fail, or drift and internet connectivity is often limited in resource-constrained environments. This study presents a reliability-aware edge-learning pipeline for weekly VRI zone prediction using federated learning (FL). …

The Effect Of Transient Power Ramp-Up On Structural And Optical Properties Of Cuo Thin Films Prepared By Radio Frequency Magnetron Sputtering, Cyril C. F. Kumachang, Daniel I. Amune, Ivy M Asuo, Dahiru Sanni, Yusuf A. Olanrewaju, Nicole Doumit, Richard Koech, Vitalis Anye, Esidor Ntsoenzok, Nutifafa Doumon

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Transition metal oxides have found application as charge transport materials (CTMs) in perovskite solar cell devices due to their better environmental stability and superior electronic properties compared to organic CTMs. Many researchers have used radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering to deposit inorganic CTMs on inorganic layers. However, such efforts on perovskites have been limited by the distortion of high-energy ions of the sputtering gas energized by the RF power and temperature. The ions may also distort the interface between transparent conducting oxides and the charge transport layers, thereby increasing optical scattering. Thus, the effect of ramp power during RF magnetron …

Biomass And Ecosystem Services Valuation In Support Of Urban Climate-Resilience In Dakar, Senegal, Momath Diankha, Moussa Soule, Serigne Modou Sarr, Maharazu A. Yusuf, Kwame Oppong Hackman, Sintayehu Workeneh Dejene, Issaka Abdou Razakou Kiribou

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Rapid urbanization is a growing global concern that challenges sustainability in cities. Urban trees provide several ecosystem services, such as climate regulation, carbon sequestration, and air-pollution removal. The sustainable benefits of these services imply the preservation of urban forests in developing countries, where trees are frequently removed and replaced by buildings and other infrastructure. Supporting informed decisionmaking requires accurate estimation and valuation of tree biomass and ecosystem services beyond conventional forest-based allometric approaches. This study used a scientific ecosystem services modeling tool to improve the accuracy of biomass estimates for the Mbao Protected Forest in Dakar. It uses the vegetation …

Enhancing Stability And Efficiency In Perovskite Solar Cells: Insights Into Inorganic Htl Deposition And Interface Defect Passivation, Daniel I Amune, W Fidel, R. K Koech, Dahiru Sanni, J Botsoa, V Anye, E Nstoenzok

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

The perovskite solar cell (PSC) as an emerging and promising type of solar cell has been extensively studied, but instability is still a major challenge. Replacing the hygroscopic organic hole transport layer (HTL) in PSCs can result in an improvement in the device stability. However, it is still difficult to deposit inorganic HTLs onto the underlying perovskite layer without eroding or distorting it in the regular n–i–p architecture, thereby inducing defects at the interface and reducing the performance of the device. In this study, the performance of PSCs with an inorganic HTL is modelled using SCAPS-1D. The perovskiteHTL interface defect …

When To Bite Back: Queerness, Resistance, And Reclamation Of The Monstrous Identity In Andrew Joseph White’S Hell Followed With Us, Aster J. Mehigan Mx.

English

Who gets the right to define morality? Who gets to define what is monstrous? Frankenstein’s Creature, the vampires of Lost Boys, The Craft’s head witch Nancy Downs; these characters follow a pattern through the decades of those alienated from society, in this case being written with queer subtext, being deemed as monstrous. These queer monsters become the villains of the story, causing chaos, death and destruction in their wake, seeking revenge against a world that ostracizes them. The 2022 dystopian YA horror of Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White challenges the villanized monstrous identity through its transgender protagonist …

Dog Waste Creates A Preference-Performance Mismatch For Urban Dung Beetles, Erin L. Mccullough, Beatrice M. Altopp, Daniel F. Kellogg, Madelyn S. Mcinnis, Luna J. Pagan

Biology

Urban environments expose animals to novel conditions that may favor behavioral flexibility but can create preference-performance mismatches when attractive resources are associated with reduced reproductive success. Dung beetles are often considered dietary generalists, yet little is known about how they respond to altered food availability in human-dominated habitats. We combined field surveys and laboratory experiments using two domestic dung types to examine diet preference, maternal provisioning, and offspring performance in the urban dung beetle Onthophagus orpheus. Beetles strongly preferred dog dung over cow dung, and offspring reared on dog dung developed faster and emerged as larger adults. Despite these apparent …

Examining Reproductive Equity In The Post-Roe United States, Yali Pang, Anna Grace Causey, Nakeina E. Douglas-Glenn, Research Institute For Social Equity Rise

Research Institute for Social Equity

Four years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, state-level variation in reproductive rights policy is associated with substantial geographic inequities in access to abortion and reproductive health care across the United States. The adoption of restrictive or protective reproductive rights policies is closely tied to legislative control, underscoring the political drivers of reproductive inequity. The evidence suggests that advancing reproductive equity will require coordinated national, state, and local response to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, reduce economic barriers, and establish durable legislative protections for reproductive rights.

Clinical Challenges Associated With Enhancing Hypertension Among The Underserved African American Population, Ashley Richardson

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Background 

African Americans face a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension, tend to develop complications at younger ages, and have disproportionately higher mortality rates. Key social determinants of health (SDoH)—including food deserts, unequal access to healthcare, and geographic disparities in healthcare resources—contribute to these ongoing inequities. Addressing both systemic and individual barriers is crucial for effective hypertension management.

Objective

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a culturally relevant, community-based intervention designed to reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure among Black adults with uncontrolled hypertension.

Methods 

Quality improvement (QI) initiatives typically employ multicomponent, equity-focused models. The primary components of …

Cisheterosexism In Lgbtqia+ Health Resource Guides, Vanessa Kitzie, Olivia Reed, Amirezza Kalantari

Faculty Publications

Cisheterosexism in LGBTQIA+ Health Resource Guides Vanessa Kitzie, Amirezza Kalantari, Olivia Reed University of South Carolina, School of Information Science [email protected] Limited healthcare resources lead many LGBTQIA+ people to peer networks, often accessed via search engines to find community-created health resource websites [1–3]. Academic library guides benefit privileged LGBTQIA+ identities [4], but little is known about community guides, which may reinforce cisheterosexist narratives, causing stigma and stress [5, 6]. This study addresses this gap by scraping Google results for LGBTQIA+ health resources across US states, examining how cisheterosexism shapes health topics, geography, and representation of LGBTQIA+ populations. We hypothesize that …

Predicting Dementia Risk: Progress, Pitfalls, And Priorities, Patricia Nistor, Osvaldo Espin-Garcia, Zul Merali, Shehzad Ali

Brain and Mind Institute

As populations age, identifying individuals at high risk for dementia has become a cornerstone of prevention-oriented public health policy. Accurate and scalable risk stratification could enable early intervention and resource targeting. However, existing models face methodological limitations, including constraints in available data and follow-up duration, challenges in dementia ascertainment, heterogeneity in modelling approaches, and limited external validation. This commentary discusses these challenges and identifies methodological priorities for developing dementia risk algorithms that are robust and suitable for real-world implementation.

Evolving Paradigms Of Sustainability In Luxury Fashion: Evidence From An Emerging Market, Sandipan Sen, Sphurti Sewak, Swati Singh, Moutusy Maity, Aniruddha Pangarkar

Faculty Publications – Marketing

The global fashion industry is both an economic driver and a major contributor of environmental and social challenges. This research examines how sustainable luxury fashion is constructed and adopted within an emerging market context by integrating perspectives from entrepreneurs, industry managers, and consumers. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach and drawing upon Self-Identity Theory and need for uniqueness, this research explores how identity-based motivations shape sustainable luxury consumption. Study 1 employs in-depth interviews with luxury fashion entrepreneurs and practitioners to uncover how sustainability is embedded within luxury value propositions. Building on these insights, Study 2 quantitatively tests a conceptual model examining the …

Comparing Digital And Non-Digital Gamification On Their Impacts In The World Language Classroom, Amanda K. Salmonson

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Few studies have focused on the comparison between digital and non-digital game-based learning, especially in the world language classroom. This thesis is a literature review of 36 peer-reviewed articles to compare the effects of digital versus non-digital game use in regards to motivation, language acquisition, vocabulary retention, teacher implementation, and student social skills and mental health. The findings show that both styles of gamification have positive impacts in all of these categories when compared to traditional teacher-centered instruction, though when compared, each mode has its benefits and weaknesses. Digital games’ promotion of competition can limit student intrinsic motivation as well …

Table Of Contents, Cardozo Journal Of Equal Rights & Social Justice, Vol. 32, Iss. 2

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

No abstract provided.