Showing papers by "University of Nebraska Omaha published in 2023"

Analysing the Impact of Carbon Emissions and Non-Renewable Energy Use on Infant and Under-5 Mortality Rates in Europe: New Evidence Using Panel Quantile Regression

Abstract: This study critically examines the health-environment discourse and uses infant and under-5 mortality rates, carbon emissions, and non-renewable energy to investigate the inherent associations. We argue that the concentration of greenhouse gas emissions is considered to increase and can undermine the access to basic resources necessary for leading a healthy life, such as access to food, water, health, and the environment. Environmental health is closely linked to human health. The world is witnessing a substantial increase in greenhouse gas emissions, which pose a significant threat to both environment and human health. Hence, this study contributes to the discourse with unbalanced panel data on 46 European countries from 2005 to 2015 to investigate the impact of carbon emissions and non-renewable energy on infant and under-5 mortality rates. Consistent findings from static and dynamic analyses reveal that (1) carbon emission is positively associated with mortality rate; (2) non-renewable energy shows a significant negative relationship; (3) persistency in mortality rates exists; (4) positive (negative) association of emissions (non-renewable energy) dwindles (increases) in absolute value at higher distributions of mortality rates; and (5) Euro Union countries show lower mortality rates relative to non-Euro Union members. Policy recommendations are discussed.

Atomic Force Microscopy and Its Spectroscopic Combinations for Studying Self‐Assembled Nanostructures

Abstract: Self-assembly is an important process of nanostructure formation, not only from a biological but also from a nanotechnological standpoint. Due to the nanoscale nature of the self-assembly process, especially molecular self-assembly, it has been challenging to systematically characterize the features of this process in detail. The ability to visualize and characterize the self-assembly from the initial stages to the final self-assembled products is critical in gaining control over the complex process and constructing nanostructures of predicted design. This chapter presents several examples of studies with the use of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). AFM and its combinations with spectroscopic methods are expected to provide more understanding of the mechanistic details and, hopefully, more control of the self-assembly process and self-assembled nanostructures.

Review: Race and Social Equity: A Nervous Area of Government

Abstract: By Susan Gooden. New York: Routledge, 2015. 224 pages, paperback.

Distributional properties of the statistic of online student evaluations the mean does not mean what you think it means

Abstract: Student Evaluations of Teaching (SETs) are an integral part of evaluating course outcomes. They are routinely used to evaluate teaching quality for the purposes of reappointment, promotion, and tenure (RPT), annual review, and the rehiring of adjunct faculty and lecturers. These evaluations are often based almost entirely on the mean or proportion of the ordinal overall score with no regard to statistical noise. This study examines the distribution of the statistic (mean or proportion) when SETs are administered online and in-person. Using non-parametric procedures, we show that the size of the 95% confidence interval of the statistic is a function of response rates. Prior to COVID-19, online administration of SETs resulted in significantly more uncertainty than in-person administration because the in-person response rates were higher. Due to a decrease in in-person response rates in the post-COVID vaccine period, both methods result in significant levels of uncertainty of the true statistic value. In classes of fewer than 30 students, the 95% confidence interval of the statistic is wide enough for instructors to be considered for a teaching award in one semester or below average in another semester, while holding teaching quality constant.

Residual-based a posteriori error analysis of an ultra-weak discontinuous Galerkin method for nonlinear second-order initial-value problems

Abstract: Abstract Note: Please see pdf for full abstract with equations. In this paper, we propose and analyze implicit residual-based a posteriori error estimates for the ultra-weak discontinuous Galerkin (UWDG) method for nonlinear second-order initial-value problems for ordinary differential equations of the form u′′ = ƒ(x, u) . We prove that the UWDG error on each element can be split into two parts. The significant part is proportional to the ( p + 1 )-degree polynomial ( 1 − ξ ) 2 P 2,0 p−1 (ξ), ξ ∈ [−1, 1] , where P 2,0 p−1 (ξ) is the (p − 1 )-degree Jacobi polynomial, when piecewise polynomials of degree at most p ≥ 2 are used. The second part of the error converges with order p + 2 in the L 2 -norm. These results allow us to construct a posteriori UWDG error estimates. The proposed residual-based a posteriori error estimators of this paper are reliable, efficient, and are obtained by solving a local problem with no side conditions on each element. Furthermore, we prove that, for smooth solutions, these a posteriori error estimates converge to the exact errors in the L 2 -norm under mesh refinement. The order of convergence is proved to be p + 2 . Finally, we prove that the global effectivity index converges to unity at O(h) rate. Several numerical experiments are provided to validate the theoretical results. AMS subject classifications (2020)}: 65L05, 65L20, 65L50, 65L60, 65L70.

A Convergent Mixed Methods Study to Explore Physical Activity Among Teachers and Children During the Preschool Day

Abstract: Preschool teachers are uniquely positioned to impact children's physical activity levels, yet the relationship between teachers' and children's physical activity levels has not been widely investigated. The purpose of this study was to explore preschool teachers' physical activity levels, practices, and perceptions and how this relates to children's physical activity at preschool centers. This convergent mixed methods study included eight teachers and 20 children from four preschool classrooms. Accelerometers were used to measure their physical activity. Pearson correlations were used to explore the relationship between teachers' and children's physical activity levels. Direct observation was used to contextualize children's physical activity while at preschool. Teachers completed a semi-structured interview to explore their physical activity perceptions and practices. On average, teachers and children were physically active for 50.2 ± 9.3% and 29.5 ± 7.0% of their time at preschool, respectively. A significant positive correlation (p = 0.02; r = 0.98) was found between teachers' and children's percent of time at preschool per day in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Children mostly engaged in low-intensity activities (stationary play; light walking) during free play both indoors and outdoors and were mostly sedentary during teacher-initiated group times. All teachers stated they had a positive influence on children's physical activity. Teachers commonly reported pain or health conditions as a barrier to their physical activity. There was a positive relationship between teachers' and children's physical activity. More research is needed to confirm this relationship and to explore the impacts of high amounts of occupational physical activity on teachers' health.The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10643-023-01486-8.

Adult lifespan development and optimal mental health

Abstract: The adulthood portion of the lifespan is the longest, spanning many decades. As life expectancy continues to increase, understanding development and change across the adult lifespan is important, especially if the goal is to have a long and healthy life. To experience high quality of life with age, although many factors are relevant and can vary for each person, striving for optimal mental health is an essential component. This chapter discusses how psychological resilience and the impact on optimal mental health may vary as a function of lifespan transitions and roles, environmental context, and chronological and perceived age.

Gender, Sexuality, and Landscape

Abstract: Western cultures have long described and depicted landscapes as feminine. From representations in literature and art through gendered spaces, like “man camps,” gender is both written and performed on the American landscape. This paper considers the Great Plains and specifically examines the complicated oil landscape of Western North Dakota. With the oil boom beginning in 2006, the Williston area became hypermasculinized. Man camps were established to house the oil industry workers who poured in, dramatically skewing the gender ratio and dominating the landscape. This chapter considers how the landscape has been and is viewed through the lens of gender as well as shapes how it is experienced. Today, spaces like oil boom man camps can be viewed as masculine spaces, associated with sexual violence and sex trafficking, and as sites of masculine domination of feminine landscape.