Digital Commons Network^™

Content Masking Attacks Against Information-Based Services And Defenses Thereto, Yao Liu, Zhuo Lu, Ian Davidson Markwood, Dakun Shen

USF Patents

The embodiments present a new class of content masking attacks against the Portable Document Format (PDF) standard. The attacks cause documents to appear different than the underlying content extracted from the documents by information-based services. The first attack allows academic paper writers and reviewers to collude via subverting the automatic reviewer assignment systems in current use by academic conferences. The second attack renders plagiarism detection software ineffective, targeting specific small plagiarism similarity scores to appear natural and evade detection. The final attack places masked content into the indexes for various search engines, which renders as information entirely different from the …

System And Method For Enhanced Diversity And Network Coding (Edc-Nc), Richard Dennis Gitlin, Nabeel Ibrahim Sulieman

USF Patents

The present invention provides an enhanced DC-NC (eDC-NC) system and method that enables ultra-reliable networking, provides near-instant latency, reduces power consumption while recovering from simultaneous multiple link/node failures and improves the throughput for a wide variety of network architectures.

Biomimetic Transfemoral Knee With Gear Mesh Locking Mechanism, Tyagi Ramakrishnan, Kyle B. Reed

USF Patents

A prosthetic knee having a passive knee locking mechanism that uses the same four-bar mechanics found in a natural knee. The flexible four-bar mechanism guides the motion of the knee, aids in the return of the knee from full flexion to extension, and connects a femoral gear to a tibial gear. The gears have a circular radius and are connected using parallel links to keep the femur and tibia together when the knee is active. The knee stays locked throughout the stance phase. At toe off, no weight is applied on the prosthetic knee allowing the knee to flex. The …

Metabolic Therapy For Wound Healing, Dominic Paul D'Agostino, Shannon Kesl

USF Patents

Ketone supplementation, such as through use of precursors of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and acetoacetate (AcAc), increased blood levels of ketone bodies, increases blood flow and wound closure in ischemic young and aged fisher rats significantly earlier compared to standard diet in aged rats. In vitro experiments with ketone bodies demonstrate decreased mitochondrial and cytosolic ROS in young and aged primary human dermal fibroblasts (PHDF). Ketone bodies increased migration in young and aged PHDFs.

Enhancement Of Photocatalytic Effect With Surface Roughness In Photocatalytic Reactors, Dharendra Yogi Goswami, Elias K. Stefanakos, Yangyang Zhang

USF Patents

Photocatalysis is a promising technique for remediation of indoor air pollution. The present invention focuses on the enhancement of the effectiveness of the photocatalytic process by the introduction of artificial roughness on the interior reactor surface. Artificial roughness elements on the catalytic surface enhance the turbulence intensity close to the catalytic surface. The enhanced turbulence intensity translates to an increase in the mass transfer of airborne contaminants to the catalyst surface, improving the efficiency of photocatalysis.

Possible Transmission Flow Of Sars-Cov-2 Based On Ace2 Features, Sk Sarif Hassan, Shinjini Ghosh, Diksha Attrish, Pabitra Pal Choudhury, Alaa A A Aljabali, Bruce D Uhal, Kenneth Lundstrom, Nima Rezaei, Vladimir N Uversky, Murat Seyran, Damiano Pizzol, Parise Adadi, Antonio Soares, Tarek Mohamed Abd El-Aziz, Ramesh Kandimalla, Murtaza M Tambuwala, Gajendra Kumar Azad, Samendra P Sherchan, Wagner Baetas-Da-Cruz, Kazuo Takayama, Ángel Serrano-Aroca, Gaurav Chauhan, Giorgio Palu, Adam M Brufsky

All publications

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the cellular receptor for the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that is engendering the severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The spike (S) protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 binds to the three sub-domains viz. amino acids (aa) 22-42, aa 79-84, and aa 330-393 of ACE2 on human cells to initiate entry. It was reported earlier that the receptor utilization capacity of ACE2 proteins from different species, such as cats, chimpanzees, dogs, and cattle, are different. A comprehensive analysis of ACE2 receptors of nineteen species was carried out in this study, and the …

Exosomes From Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells For The Treatment Of Brain Injury, Niketa A. Patel, Paula Cole Bickford

USF Patents

Brain injury can be caused by trauma or may occur in stroke or neurodegenerative diseases. The disclosure relates to compositions that can include exosomes isolated from human adipose-derived stem cells (hASC) and methods where exosomes from hASC may be used alone or in combination with insulin for the treatment of brain injury.

Usf St. Petersburg Campus Advisory Board Workshop - Campus Enrollment Plan : 2020 : 12 : 02 Agenda, University Of South Florida St. Petersburg.

Campus Board: Agendas

No abstract provided.

System And Method For Bio-Inspired Filter Banks For A Brain-Computer Interface, Ali Fatih Demir, Ismail Uysal, Huseyin Arslan

USF Patents

A system and method of steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) frequency detection using bio-inspired filter banks (BIFB) includes, acquiring electroencephalographic (EEG) signals from a subject in response to a repetitive visual stimulus, estimating the power spectral density (PSD) of the channel of the EEG signals including at least one SSVEP response, extracting one or more SSVEP response features from the estimated PSD of the channel using a bio-inspired filter bank (BIFB) and classifying the extracted SSVEP response features to determine if the detected SSVEP response frequency from the EEG signals acquired from the subject substantially matches the repetition frequency of …

Orthotic Grippers, Catherine Marie Blasse, Daniel Stewart Miller, Amber Lynn Gatto

USF Patents

In one embodiment, an orthotic gripper includes a flex sensor configured to detect flexion and extension of a wrist of a user of the gripper, and a gripping mechanism comprising a thumb link configured to attach to a thumb of the user and a finger link pivotally connected to the thumb link and configured to attach to one or more fingers of the user, the gripping mechanism being configured to move the finger link toward the thumb link when the flex sensor detects flexion of the wrist and to move the finger link away from the thumb link when the …

Digital Fabrication Of A Small Diameter Polymer Optical Waveguide, Venkat Rama Bhethanabotla, Thomas M. Weller, Roger Brandon Tipton, John Townsend Bentley, Eduardo Antonio Rojas

USF Patents

A novel polymer optical waveguide and method of manufacturing is presented herein. A digitally manufactured process is described which utilizes a micro-dispensed UV optical adhesive as the contour guiding cladding, a fused deposition modeling technology for creating a core, additional optical adhesive to complete the cladding and a subtractive laser process to finish the two ends of the optical interconnect.

Stress, Wellbeing, And Support For Students & School Staff, Alexis Sanchez, Nathaniel Von Der Embse

Policy Brief

Stress is a naturally occurring physical and psychological response from the accumulation of short- or long-term demands placed on individuals. Physically, the body will react to stress-induced hormones by increasing heart rate, respiration, and muscle tension. Psychologically, stress will prompt the body to respond with heightened alertness and attention to what caused the stress. Stress that is appropriately managed through effective coping mechanisms contributes to well-being, but prolonged stress can lead to chronic conditions: high blood pressure, compromised immune systems, and brain changes (e.g., anxiety, depression, and addiction). In the context of the COVID-19 crisis, there has been a disruption …

Supporting The Social-Emotional Wellbeing Of Students During A Time Of Stress, Sarahy Durango, Nathaniel Von Der Embse

Policy Brief

There is a strong connection between students’ social- emotional health and academic success. Students with strong social-emotional skills have been shown to possess increased capacity to learn, improved life outcomes, and decreased risk for mental health problems. Currently, almost 25% of children are estimated to experience a mental or behavioral health problem in a given year. If left untreated, these issues are often exacerbated and can increase in severity, leading to worsened outcomes for children. Schools are increasingly becoming the central location for children to access mental health services due to barriers that interfere with families receiving support from community-based …

Cutr Connections [December 2020], Cutr

CUTR Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Addressing Health Disparities In The Rural United States: Advocacy As Caregiving Among Community Health Workers And Promotores De Salud, Ryan I Logan, Heide Castañeda

All publications

Rural populations in the United States are faced with a variety of health disparities that complicate access to care. Community health workers (CHWs) and their Spanish-speaking counterparts, promotores de salud, are well-equipped to address rural health access issues, provide education, and ultimately assuage these disparities. In this article, we compare community health workers in the states of Indiana and Texas, based on the results of two separate research studies, in order to (1) investigate the unique role of CHWs in rural communities and (2) understand how their advocacy efforts represent a central form of caregiving. Drawing on ethnographic, qualitative data—including …

Disproportionate Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Racial And Ethnic Minorities, Brad Boserup, Mark Mckenney, Adel Elkbuli

All publications

Background: Health disparities are prevalent in many areas of medicine. We aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on racial/ethnic groups in the United States (US) and to assess the effects of social distancing, social vulnerability metrics, and medical disparities.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing data from the COVID-19 Tracking Project and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Demographic data were obtained from the US Census Bureau, social vulnerability data were obtained from the CDC, social distancing data were obtained from Unacast, and medical disparities data from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. …

Pressured By Students, Medical Schools Grapple With Climate Change, Michele Cohen Marill

All publications

In Miami, Florida, aspiring clinicians apply lessons learned while reaching out to the region’s most vulnerable communities.

Accountability Policies & Educator Wellbeing, Joseph Latimer, Nathaniel Von Der Embse, William Black

Policy Brief

Since the publication of A Nation At Risk in 1983, educators have lived with an increasingly comprehensive set of test-based accountability policies. Framing global competitiveness in student academic success as an increasingly important component of a broader economic and national security agenda , both federal and state departments of educationmoved to establish an ‘accountability era’ by mandating test-based educational accountability legislation including No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), Race to the Top (RTTT), Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), as well as various state-level policy initiatives that evolved from including various district, school, and student accountability measures, and more recently; teacher …

Npml [Bull]Etin : 2020 : 12, Nelson Poynter Memorial Library.

NPML [Bull]etin

No abstract provided.

Projection Material Processing System And Associated Method Of Use, Nathan Brad Crane, Justin Troy Nussbaum

USF Patents

A material processing and associated additive manufacturing system and method that utilizes high intensity light to fuse an entire layer of material, at one time, to create a three-dimensional component. The system and method of the present invention allows for each layer to be created in a fraction of the time, thereby reducing the overall time for a three-dimensional component to be created, thereby increasing control over the properties achieved.

Use Of Ketone Esters For Prevention Of Cns Oxygen Toxicity, Dominic Paul D'Agostino, Jay B. Dean, Raffaele Pilla, Patrick Arnold

USF Patents

The present invention demonstrates the therapeutic use of ketone esters for seizure disorders, Alzheimer's disease and malignant brain cancer, which are associated with metabolic dysregulation. The administration of ketone esters resulted therapeutic ketosis and neuroprotection against seizures resulting from CNS oxygen toxicity. Supplemental ketones were also found to reduce superoxide production in cultured cortex neurons exposed to hyperbaric oxygen and Aβ-42, and to decrease proliferation and viability in U87 glioma cells. These observations support the therapeutic effect of ketones for seizure disorders, Alzheimer's disease and malignant brain cancer. The ketone esters may be derived from acetoacetate and can include R,S-1,3-butanediol …

Predictive Model For Overall Network Security Risk, Nawa Raj Pokhrel, Chris P. Tsokos

USF Patents

A stochastic model is described for cybersecurity using a host access attack graph to determine network security risk. The model uses Markov chains in conjunction with vulnerability metrics to analyze risks associated with a number of different types of computing devices in various types of networks. The model can be used to identify critical nodes in a host access attack graph where attackers may be most likely to focus. Based on that information, a network administrator can make appropriate, prioritized decisions for system patching. Further, a flexible risk ranking technique is described, where the decisions made by an attacker can …

Compounds For The Treatment Of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Jianfeng Cai, Chuanhai Cao

USF Patents

Disclosed herein are compounds for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and compositions comprising the same.

Machine-Based Infants Pain Assessment Tool, Ghadh A. Alzamzmi, Dmitry Goldgof, Yu Sun, Rangachar Kasturi, Terri Ashmeade

USF Patents

A system and method for measuring an infant's pain intensity is presented. The method for assessing an infant's pain intensity based on facial expressions is comprised of three main stages: detection of an infant's face in video sequence followed by preprocessing operations including face alignment; expression segmentation; and expression recognition or classification. Also presented is a multimodal system for assessing an infant's pain intensity using the following classifiers: facial expression classifier; vital sign classifier; crying recognition classifier; body motion classifier and state of arousal classifier. Each classifier generates an individual score, all of which are normalized and weighed to generate …

Compositions And Methods For White To Beige Adipogenesis, Denise Ratzlaff Cooper, Ryan Adam Kirchoffer, Robert Pleasants Sparks, Wayne Charles Guida

USF Patents

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for transitioning or converting a white adipocyte to a beige adipocyte. The compositions and methods may be used in the treatment of obesity. In some embodiments, the compositions include a compound selected from DC677 and DC761.

Genealib Archive 2020-11, Genealib

GENEALIB Archive

No abstract provided.

Impact Assessment Of Full And Partial Stay-At-Home Orders, Face Mask Usage, And Contact Tracing: An Agent-Based Simulation Study Of Covid-19 For An Urban Region, Hanisha Tatapudi, Rachita Das, Tapas K Das

All publications

Purpose: Social intervention strategies to mitigate COVID-19 are examined using an agent-based simulation model. Outbreak in a large urban region, Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA is used as a case study. Results are intended to serve as a planning guide for decision makers.

Methods: The simulation model mimics daily social mixing behavior of the susceptible and infected generating the spread. Data representing demographics of the region, virus epidemiology, and social interventions shapes model behavior. Results include daily values of infected, reported, hospitalized, and dead.

Results: Results show that early implementation of complete stay-at-home order is effective in flattening and reversing the …

Cutr Connections [November 2020], Cutr

CUTR Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Methods And Compositions For Treating Drug Resistance In Cancer, Subhra Mohapatra, Shyam S. Mohapatra, Mark Howell, Rajesh Nair

USF Patents

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treating cancer. Further provided herein are compositions and methods for reducing, inhibiting, or preventing resistance of cancer to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The methods may include administering an anti-resistance agent such as a CYP51A1 inhibitor or an agonist of miRNA-764 (SEQ ID NO: 4) to a subject. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor may also be administered to the subject in addition to the anti-resistance agent.

Small Molecules That Mimic Or Antagonize Actions Of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating-Factor (G-Csf), Juan Sanchez-Ramos, Vasyl Sava, Shijie Song, Said Sebti

USF Patents

Described herein are compound for the modulation of the G-CSF receptor. The compounds may act as agonists, antagonists, and/or mixed or partial agonists/antagonists of G-CSF. Further provided herein are methods of treating a condition, including, for example, a neurodegenerative disease, by administering a compound as detailed herein.