Digital Commons Network^™

The Cultural Significance Of The Architecture Of The Umm An-Nar Culture Tombs (2700–2000 Bce) In The Omani Peninsul, Khaled Douglas

Journal of Arts and Social Sciences

Umm al-Nar tombs considered one of the most significant architectural landmarks of that period. Despite the diversity and variation in the plan and size of the tombs, they are considered homogeneous in their architectural style and components spread across the Omani Peninsula. These tombs distinguished by a special architectural system that differed from the rest of the other buildings mainly by their external appearance. The builder of these tombs made a great effort to highlight the external appearance of the tomb, which was represented by the using limestone in its construction, which was used exclusively in the construction of the …

The Role Of Social Media In Cultural Change In Saudi Society (From The Woman’S Perspective), Huda Abdulaziz Aldegheiy

Journal of Arts and Social Sciences

The study aimed to identify the role of social media in cultural change in Saudi society from the point of view of women. In light of the nature of the study, the researcher used the descriptive analytical approach, and the study tool was the questionnaire, and the sample size reached (709) of women in Saudi society. The study found several results, the most important of which were: (45.7%) of the study sample believe that TikTok is the most influential social media on cultural changes, while there are (26.7%) who believe that Snapchat is the most influential, and that there is …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Lives Of Individuals In Kuwaiti Society During Curfew, Hend Batel Al-Ma’Seb, Maha Meshari Al-Sejari

Journal of Arts and Social Sciences

The main aim of this study is to assess the extent to which the Covid-19 pandemic has affected individuals in Kuwaiti society in its various aspects, such as economic conditions, social relations, personal hygiene, and physical health, which are determined by demographic factors such as age, gender, marital status, and level of education. The study employed a descriptive approach and recruited 703 individuals who lived in Kuwait during the pandemic. The main tool used was an online questionnaire. This questionnaire consists of several sections, including an introduction, demographic information about respondents, and a scale of the impact of the pandemic …

The Role Of Service Quality In Enhancing The Brand Image Of Sports Clubs In The Sultanate Of Oman, Amain Gaafar, Ali Al Yaaribi

Journal of Arts and Social Sciences

The study aims to identify the dimensions of service quality in improving the Brand image in sports clubs - in the Sultanate of Oman, and the descriptive approach was used in the survey method. The study sample was randomly selected from Club boards of directors, club managers, players, coaches, clubgoers, and escorts, and their number was (39). The study recommends focusing on developing appropriate strategies that help improve the brand image of sports clubs among members and beneficiaries.

Girls Of Riyadh Narrating The “Velvet Class” In Saudi Arabia, Yahya Hassan Al-Wadhaf

Journal of Arts and Social Sciences

Banat al-Riyadh, translated as Girls of Riyadh, is a Saudi controversial novel which was initially published in 2005 and appeared as an English version in 2007. The narrative gives a detailed and an inside view to the domestic and ‘private’ part of the Saudi society. It gives an access to that ‘velvet class’ as the narrator describes the women that occupy the narrative space of Girls of Riyadh. The novel addresses in a revolutionary manner issues pertaining to women’s rights, dreams, hopes and aspirations The novel addresses in a revolutionary manner issues pertaining to women’s rights, dreams, hopes, and aspirations …

Socioeconomic Inequality In Child Malnutrition In Sudan: Results From The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2014), Huda Mohamed Mukhtar Ahmed, Mutaz Fikri Mohamed Osman Digna

Journal of Arts and Social Sciences

This study investigates the association between nutrition indicators such as height/weight-for-age and weight-for-height with socioeconomic variables in Sudan, using the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey data, 2014. These variables include Household's wealth quintiles, mother's highest education level, head of household's highest level of education, place of residence, age and gender of the child, region, and access sanitation facilities A concentration index and curve and a probit model used were to measure the socioeconomic inequality in under-five children malnutrition. The findings showed that the child's age (P = 0.000), mother's education of secondary and above (P = 0.046), and households’ richest quintile …

The Role Of Microfinance In Improving Global Economy, Khamphou Milayome

Doctoral Dissertations (DBA)

This study investigates microfinance’s role in enhancing the global economy by examining its impact on economic growth, unemployment, and political stability. Secondary data from MIX Market and WDI were used in this study to assess these relationships. Multiple regression was conducted with EViews software to test regression models with the independent variables related to microfinance and microfinance institutions (MFIs). Using the data from South Asia and Southeast Asian countries, this study finds that microfinance significantly improves economic growth, reduces the unemployment rate, and strengthens political stability. Microeconomic variables used in the study are borrowing amounts and the cost per borrower. …

Associations Of Variation In Mtdna With Feed Efficiency In Beef Cattle And The Evaluation Of Transcriptomic Changes In Fetal Kidney Due To Hydrallantois, Lauren Elizabeth Seier

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Project 1 focused on the central role that mitochondria play in ATP production, highlighting that variation within the mtDNA may influence feed efficiency. Variation in the mitochondrial genome was uncovered, and associations with feed efficiency in beef cattle were identified. Growth and feed intake phenotypes, as well as low-pass sequencing, were collected on beef steers across two populations. Protein coding variants were identified and used to classify animals into mitochondrial haplotypes. A linear mixed model was employed, which detected a significant association between mitochondrial haplotype and DMI. A significant haplotype with a variant in Complex I was associated with reduced …

The Effect Of Diet Formulations Containing Different Protein Sources On Energy And Nitrogen Utilization In Lactating Jersey Cows, Kortney Ann Harpestad

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

It is well understood that lactating dairy cows require metabolizable protein (MP) for milk yield and milk protein synthesis. Diets with conventional feed sources like corn and soybean meal (SBM) may not sufficiently meet all MP and amino acid (AA) requirements so supplementation with more rumen undegradable protein (RUP) rich feeds or rumen-protected AA can be fed to support animal performance. The growth trajectory of biofuels has resulted in dramatic increases in the production of feeds like heat treated soybean meal (HTSBM). While the chemical composition of this product is understood, there is a need to better understand how HTSBM …

A Four-Year Mixed Methods Cohort Study Of Professional Learning Interventions In Teacher Education Colleges In Kenya, Tanzania, And Uganda, Nyagwegwe Wango, Nipael Mrutu, Jane Rarieya, Fortidas Bakuza

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

In teacher professional learning reforms, maintaining pedagogical transformation is still a major problem, especially in settings with limited resources and policy transitions. During the four years that the Foundation for Learning (F4L) initiative was implemented in teacher education institutions in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda (2022–2025), this study looks at longitudinal patterns of improvement. The study employs a retrospective mixed-methods approach to examine two structured cycles of cohort-level data, which include interview datasets, lesson plan documents, mentoring records, questionnaire summaries, and classroom observation reports. Cycle comparisons show enhanced consistency in structured practicum feedback systems over time, better alignment between lesson objectives …

Economic Contribution Of 2023/2024 Averaged Nonresident Travel Spending In Montana Travel Regions And Counties, Kara Grau

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

Nonresidents spend over $5 billion in Montana each year. This report looks at the distribution of spending across Montana’s six travel regions, as well as 20 of the 56 counties with the highest spending based on an average of 2023 and 2024 spending data.

Rates Of Appropriate Initiation Of Low Dose Aspirin Prophylaxis As Indicated By The Gestosis Score In Early Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study, Mundlapati Usha, Nathasha Hk, Akkamma A. Satyaraddi, Geetanjali M. Katageri

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Introduction: Pre-clampsia is a multisystem disorder in pregnancy. Initiating Low Dose Aspirin (LDA) in early pregnancy is recommended to prevent development of pre-eclampsia in high-risk women. Gestosis score is a simple screening tool for predicting women at risk for developing pre-eclampsia. It can be done by any health care provider even in the periphery. This study highlights the degree of awareness amongst obstetric healthcare providers in prediction and prevention of pre-eclampsia and the rates of appropriate initiation of Aspirin.

Methodology: 134 pregnant women were included in the study. The parameters for calculating the GESTOSIS score were retrieved from …

The Need For Specialized Career Development Services For Collegiate Student-Athletes, Scott Victor-Allen Spaanstra

Masters Projects

Research has shown that college students benefit greatly from career development services provided by their university (Bridgstock et al., 2019). However, many collegiate student-athletes may find it difficult to utilize their on-campus career development resources due to additional time constraints, stress and pressure, and struggle with athletic identity (Carodine et al., 2001). This project explores the importance of specialized career development support for student-athletes at collegiate universities as specialized career development services have been shown to benefit students (Patton & McMahon, 2021). This project will introduce career development services to help student-athletes as well as provide the tools to evaluate …

Contextualization Of Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (Hcap) In An Aging Population In Rural Low-Resource Settings In Africa: Experiences And Strategies Adopted To Optimize Effective Adaption Of Cognitive Tests In Kenya, Roselyter Riang’A, Eunice Muthoni, Niranjani Nagarajan, Felix Agoi, Patrick Mwangala, Alden Gross, Jean Ikanga, Kenneth Langa, Edward Miguel, Anthony Ngugi

Population Health, East Africa

Cross-cultural adaptation of cognitive assessments is crucial for detecting Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRD) in aging populations. This study documents the adaptation of the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) for a pilot study on the Longitudinal Study of Health and Aging in Kenya (LOSHAK) in rural Kilifi County, Kenya, highlighting challenges and strategies for optimizing outcomes. As part of the LOSHAK feasibility phase, cognitive tests including: the Swahili Mental State Examination, 10-word recall, animal naming, story recall, clock drawing, and making change, were administered to 202 participants (≥45 years) from the Kaloleni/Rabai Health and Demographic Surveillance System (KRHDSS). …

Midlife Cognitive Testing In Africa: Validity Of The Harmonised Cognitive Assessment Protocol In The Kenya Life Panel Survey, Alden Gross, Madeline Duhon, Eric Ochieng, Jean Ikanga, William Dow, Jinkook Lee, Michael Walker, Michelle Layvant, Anthony Ngugi, Joshua Ehrlich

Population Health, East Africa

Objectives: Cohort studies of ageing and cognitive decline typically do not begin fielding comprehensive cognitive assessments until older adulthood. However, for identifying preventable dementia risk factors, there is strong value in beginning at earlier ages. The case is especially compelling in sub-Saharan Africa, where the number of older individuals is expected to triple in the next three decades, and where risk factors may operate more intensively at earlier ages. This study reports on the adaptation and validity of the Harmonised Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) approach in the Kenya Life Panel Survey (KLPS), collected among middle-aged respondents.

Design: To evaluate the …

Bridging The Capacity Building Gap For Antimicrobial Stewardship Implementation: Evidence From Virtual Communities Of Practice In Kenya, Ghana, And Malawi, Ana De Lima, Kwame Buabeng, Mavis Sakyi, Hope Chadwala, Nicole Devereaux, Collins Mitambo, Christine Mugo-Sitati, Jennifer Njuhigu, Gunturu Revathi, Emmanuel Tanui

Pathology, East Africa

Background/Objectives: Strengthening antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs is an invaluable intervention in the ongoing efforts to contain the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly in low-resource settings. This study evaluates the impact of the Telementoring, Education, and Advocacy Collaboration initiative for Health through Antimicrobial Stewardship (TEACH AMS), which uses the virtual Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) learning model to enhance AMS capacity in Kenya, Ghana, and Malawi. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used, which included attendance data collection, facility-level assessments, post-session and follow-up surveys, as well as focus group discussions. Results: Between September 2023 and February 2025, 77 virtual learning …

A Multi-Scale Approach For Integrating Species Distribution Models With Landscape Connectivity To Identify Critical Linkage Zones For African Savanna Elephants (Loxodonta Africana), Lei Song, Amy E. Frazier, Anna Bond Estes, Lyndon Despard Estes

Geography

The populations of African savanna elephants have declined by an estimated 60 % since the 1970s, which can be attributed to a mixture of poaching and habitat loss. Human activities and environmental changes have caused unprecedented loss and fragmentation of elephant natural habitats, resulting in the isolation of elephant populations. Preserving habitat connectivity is thus increasingly important to conserve remaining elephants' populations and maintain ecological functions. A major challenge in large-scale connectivity modeling is data availability constraints. To tackle this issue, we developed an integrated modeling approach that leverages multiple, publicly available occurrence datasets, which vary in format and quality, …

Roles Of Three Conserved Active Site Residues Of Cytochrome C Nitrite Reductases During The Early Steps Of Nitrite Reduction, Shahama Alam, Bradley J. Dimock, Brian Bennett, Steven J. Reinhardt, Shahid Shahid, A. Andrew Pacheco, Jarett Wilcoxen

Physics Faculty Research and Publications

Cytochrome c nitrite reductases (ccNiRs) catalyze reduction of nitrite to ammonium in a six-electron, eight-proton process. This report explores how the behavior of three active site ccNiR variants differs from that of the wild type enzyme (ccNiR_wt) in the presence of nitrite and a variety of electron donors. While the nitrite-loaded active site of Shewanella oneidensis ccNiR_wt could be 2-electron reduced within seconds to yield a 6-coordinate ferrous nitrosyl ({Fe(L)NO}⁷) at high applied potentials, quantitative reduction of the nitrite-loaded variants R103Q, H257Q, or Y206F required substantially stronger reductants and yielded a different product over several …

Post-Disaster Economic Outcomes Of Community Development Financial Institutions (Cdfis) In Underserved Communities: The Role Of Government Funding Allocations, Regulatory Transparency, And Accountability Requirements, Bridget Elaine Steele Ross

All Dissertations

This research explored how institutional transparency, accountability mechanisms, and organizational scale relate to Community Development Financial Institutions' (CDFIs) effectiveness in economically marginalized areas after federally declared disasters. Drawing on principles from Agency Theory and Resource Dependency Theory, the study investigated how government financial support influences CDFI performance, measured by job creation and the initiation of new small businesses.

A quantitative approach was applied using aggregated data drawn from authoritative sources, including the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Small Business Administration's Office of Inspector General (OIG), and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The dataset comprises 199 CDFIs across 25 …

Aligning Remote Work Preferences With Workplace Outcomes: Investigating The Impact Of Person-Environment Fit, Sandylane Y. Oquendo

All Dissertations

Remote work gained steady popularity in all sectors after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined how matching employees' preferred remote work setup with their actual work environment affected job satisfaction, engagement, stress, and the desire to leave the company. Framed by Person-Environment Fit, the research examined how the match between individual preferences and work arrangements influenced these outcomes. Participants were surveyed using a 4x4 factorial design to capture responses across various remote work scenarios. Data regression analyses indicated that alignment between remote work preferences and actual work arrangements significantly improved job satisfaction and reduced stress and turnover intention. The expected …

Evaluating Tax Preparers’ Perception Of The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act (Tcja) Through The Lens Of The Tax Misperception Theory, Cari Valita Barnes

All Dissertations

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 represented one of the most extensive overhauls of the U.S. tax code in decades. While it is credited with reducing statutory tax burdens, the TCJA also introduced substantial complexity, which shaped tax preparers’ behavior and reshaped the tax preparation industry. Designed to stimulate economic growth through broad changes to both corporate and individual taxation, the TCJA’s impact on the profession cannot be understood without considering how preparers perceived the legislation. This study, therefore, evaluated the effects of the TCJA on tax preparers’ perceptions using the Tax Misperception Theory.

Results from Tobit …

Off-Grid Renewable Energy Generation Supervisory And Data Acquisition (Sada) Using Extended Reality, Joseph Marquis Dowell

All Dissertations

Supervisory and Data Acquisition (SADA) systems are an imperative component for the operation of intelligent power systems. In this study, control room duties were performed remotely through extended reality (XR) technology. Multiple monitor setups can be eliminated, and the use of peripheral devices was reduced. XR technology allows for the combination of real and digital environments, which will help to eliminate physical control room setups while enhancing the mobility and comfort of operators. The implementation of XR technology will provide enhancements in communications through built-in text chats, voice calls, video calls, and screen casting capabilities. The XR SADA system proposed …

Preservation Of The Bernstein Property For Sums Of Independent Random Variables, Iosif Pinelis

Michigan Tech Publications

It is shown that Bernstein-type conditions on independent random variables are preserved by their sum. Some optimality properties of such preservation are proved.

Impact Of Patient Diaries On Children, Families, And Healthcare Professionals In Paediatric Intensive Care Settings: A Scoping Review, Fiona Lynch, Jos M Latour, Ruth Endacott

School of Nursing and Midwifery

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this scoping review was to understand the current landscape, features, and volume of evidence that address the review question: what is the impact of Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) patient diaries on children, families, and healthcare professionals (HCPs)? To provide context: descriptions of diary models was also provided.

METHOD: The search strategy was structured using the Population, Concept, and Context model to focus the review question. The inclusion criteria were intentionally broad to include all studies published in English from January 2016 until November 2024. The databases CINAHL, Medline, and EMBASE were used to retrieve articles, …

Nanotechnology For Immuno-Oncology, Adam J Grippin, Daeyong Lee, Eileen E Parkes, Wen Jiang, Betty Y S Kim

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Although the first generation of cancer immunotherapeutics produced unprecedented improvements in clinical outcomes for individuals with cancer, novel strategies to increase treatment specificity, delivery efficiency and pharmacokinetics are still needed. In this Review, we describe the potential advantages and current limitations of nanomaterials for cancer immunotherapy and highlight rational uses of nanosystems to generate potent and durable antitumor immune responses. We close with a review of the current state of clinical development of nanomedicine for cancer immunotherapy.

Non-Blackbox Robust Design Of Machine Learning In Networks, Venkat Sai Suman Lamba Karanam

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Networked systems have become increasingly complex, with newer communication technologies and standards being added every day. Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) paradigms have been adopted in networks to not only solve many fundamental problems, but also to allow seamless integration of components comprising them. The saying “let’s not reinvent the wheel” in ML/AI adoption implies that model architecture design be left for pure ML/AI researchers, while network researchers focus on input preprocessing (e.g. formatting the packet data to be fed to a model), hyperparameter fine-tuning and a trial-and-error approach to find the “best” result. …

Authentication And Message Integrity Verification For Emerging Wireless Networks, Ebuka Philip Oguchi

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation presents a comprehensive body of research on authentication and message integrity verification for emerging wireless networks, focusing on secret-free and physical layer security techniques across diverse, challenging, and unconventional environments.

It comprises four first-author contributions that span underground wireless systems, over-the-air (OTA) channels, vehicular communications, and nanoscale molecular networks.

The first contribution, Soil-Assisted Trust Establishment for Underground Wireless Networks (STUN), introduces a physical-layer trust bootstrapping protocol that achieves authentication and message integrity without pre-shared secrets. Leveraging underground-to-air propagation laws and trusted relay nodes, STUN resists active signal injection attacks and demonstrates security comparable to the unbalanced oil and …

Carrying Light In The Shadows: Four Portraits Of Critical Literacy Teacher Agency In Unlikely Contexts, Cassandra Schroeder

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This qualitative study utilizes portraiture methodology to explore how educators in politically conservative and predominantly White schools enact critical literacy teacher agency. Using a theoretical lens of critical literacy and second-wave Whiteness studies, this research examines the lived experiences and instructional moves of four veteran English/language arts teachers. Through cross-case analysis, the study traces how teacher agency is contextually responsive and dependent on their professional identity, awareness of sociopolitical issues, and traditional school curricular expectations. The findings highlight how educators assess risk, navigate community norms, and maintain critical literacy through dialogic pedagogy and strategic adaptation. The four teachers in the …

Blood-Red And Flaming And True, Kate Gaskin

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Blood-Red and Flaming and True contains poems that explore the immense feelings of love and loss tied to the relationship between parent and child. They chronicle my experience raising a neurodivergent child, as well as undergoing infant loss and navigating a U.S. medical system that is renowned for putting women and people capable of giving birth—especially BIPOC—at greater risk than other countries with similar resources. Through poems that inhabit a variety of forms, I sift through grief and joy while attempting to tap into the sublime state that underlies extreme loss and love. Throughout, I investigate how lyric poetry is …

Rhetorics Of Encounter: Toward A Biocentric Theory Of Discourse, Matthew D. Whitaker

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Encounters with more-than-human identities are transformative moments that stand to affect dispositional and bodily change in individuals. From close brushes with wild animals in National Parks to everyday interactions with local ecologies, encounters invite us to feel and think differently about the nature of our realities. In Rhetorics of Encounter: Toward a Biocentric Theory of Discourse, I draw from interdisciplinary perspectives to disrupt the idea of rhetoric as a representational medium, arguing that rhetoric occurs not just through textual exchanges of words and symbols, but through embodied moments of contact with other responsive beings. Invoking George Kennedy’s theory …