Digital Commons Network^™

Real-Time Image Denoising And Reconstruction Using Generative Adversarial Networks (Gans), Roa'a M. Al-Airaji, Haider Th. Salim Alrikabi, Rula Kamil, Svyd Iryna

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

This paper presents a real-time image denoising and reconstruction system based on a compact Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) designed for embedded systems and edge computing. The proposed model employs a [ generator and a PatchGAN discriminator, trained using hybrid loss function that combines L1, perceptual, and adversarial terms to balance pixel and perceptual realism. Evaluations were conducted on multiple datasets, including DIV2K, BSD68, SIDD, DND, RENOIR, and PolyU at noise levels (σ = 15, 25, 50). Quantitatively, the proposed model achieves an average PSNR of 32.8 dB and an SSIM of 0.88, which is higher by more than 3 dB …

The Double Attraction Paradox, Rem Jaen D. Krafft

Publications and Research

The Double Attraction Paradox is a podcast series that teaches adolescents how to navigate attraction through body language, limerence, and mirroring while understanding the psychology behind emotional connection. It is a manuscript that combines personal experience, observations, and research, inspired by Rem Jaen D. Krafft's high school crush. Not only does it provide a guide for teenagers and young adults, but it also encourages readers to better understand attraction, communication, and emotional development. The final chapter examines how peer pressure, traditional high school cliques, fear of rejection, and fear of intimacy may influence societal norms, emotional contagion, and relationship formation …

Influence Of Peristalsis On The Hemodynamic Analysis Of Magnetohydrodynamic Jeffrey Fluid In A Two-Layered Narrow Channel, N. Lavanya, G. Ravi Kiran, M. Varun Kumar, K. Rajyalakshmi

Mansoura Engineering Journal

In this paper, an analytical study of MHD-influenced hemodynamic of Jeffrey fluid during peristaltic transport in a two layered narrow channel is presented, a phenomenon that has substantial ramifications for microcirculatory dynamics in the cardiovascular system. The model assumes a Jeffery fluid in the core area to encapsulate microstructural phenomena, including viscosity fluctuations, whereas the periphery area is treated as a Newtonian fluid. The governing equations for both regions are simplified and analytically solved under the long wavelength approximation. Using MATHEMATICA, a numerical investigation is carried out to examine the influence of various parameters, such as the magnetic parameters, amplitude, …

Utilization Of Egyptian Flax For Industrial Applications: Sustainable Composite Tubes From Egyptian Flax Cord, Rania El Deeb, Alaa Arafa Badr, Shaimaa Youssef El-Tarfawy, Ahmed H. Hassanin, Ashraf Elnahrawy, Abdelhamid R. Aboalasaad

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The growing demand for eco-friendly products has increased interest in natural fibers such as flax for composite materials, yet high costs limit industrial adoption. This research aims to utilize less expensive Egyptian flax secondary fibers and multifunctional characterization of locally produced flax cords to develop high-performance composite tubes via filament winding. An additional objective is to treat these fibers for technical applications, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic materials.

Egyptian flax cords were processed using a filament winding technique to fabricate composite tubes. The study investigated the effects of varying the number of layers (e.g., 80/14 and 40/14/40 configurations), the …

Survey Increases Understanding Of United States Sweetpotato Producer Clean Seed Needs, Lorin Harvey, Mark Shankle, Rachael Carter, Kelsey Harvey

Journal of Extension

A needs assessment of sweetpotato producers across the United States was conducted as part of a strategic planning process to enhance the applicability of research and education. A national survey and a 2-day grant-planning workshop were also used to engage stakeholders to develop a USDA–NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative Proposal to improve and promote clean seed programs. Ninety-five U.S. sweetpotato producers completed the survey, representing more than 73,000 acres of production. Therefore, the survey respondents are estimated to account for nearly half of U.S. sweetpotato production, underscoring the importance and relevance of the results.

Financial Analysis Tool (Ct-Ft) For Western North Carolina Christmas Tree Growers, Sam Blumenfeld, Solomon Ghezehei, Justin G.A. Whitehill, Elizabeth G. Nichols

Journal of Extension

Western North Carolina is a major national Christmas tree (CT) production region, yet the CT industry faces numerous challenges that threaten its financial sustainability. Little economic research has been done, and limited decision-making tools exist to assist producers, Extension agents, and associated industry stakeholders. We developed an Excel-based financial analysis tool (CT-FT) to assist small and midsize wholesale CT producers in operational planning and financial assessment. The publicly available financial tools will enable CT growers to better understand their finances and operations, interact with financial stakeholders, assess alternative management scenarios, and track yearly costs to improve operational financial sustainability.

Assessing Knowledge Levels And Learning Preferences Among Organic Grain Farmers And Professionals; The Experience Of The University Of Wisconsin Ograin Program, Lauren Asprooth, Claire G Stedden, Evelyn Hammond, Ayse Okur, Erin Silva

Journal of Extension

With lagging domestic supplies of organic grains, transitioning from conventional to organic grain production is needed, but can be a daunting challenge for farmers. The OGRAIN program began at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2015 to support increased organic grain production in the Midwest. We surveyed 429 OGRAIN participants to assess the most accessed resources, areas of knowledge change, and areas for program improvement. Participants highlighted the importance of networking and the need for additional marketing resources. Differences were found in programming preferences by organic farming experience. These results can improve our understanding of how to best support organic grain …

Strategic Leverage Points For Effective Watershed Governance: A Micmac Structural Analysis Approach, Ivan Taslim, Sambas Basuni, Moh. Yanuar Jarwadi Purwanto, I Putu Santikayasa

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Over the past two decades, watershed governance in Indonesia has been challenged by rapid land-use change, fragmented institutions, and limited integration of scientific evidence into policy. Previous studies have primarily evaluated watershed sustainability using hydrological or socio-economic indicators, whereas the structural relationships among governance, socio-economic, and biophysical factors remain insufficiently explored. To address this gap, this study applies the Matrix of Cross-Impact Multiplications Applied to Classification (MICMAC) method to examine direct and indirect relationships among watershed governance factors. A pentahelix stakeholder analysis involving government, academia, non-governmental organizations, media, and industry was conducted to evaluate 37 factors identified through a systematic …

Attracting Extension Program Participants: Tips For Extension Educators, Suzanna R. Windon, Theodore R. Alter

Journal of Extension

Extension educators hold a competitive advantage by delivering educational programs tailored to their communities' unique circumstances and perspectives. This article enhances the understanding of the proactive Extension program model and contributes to the literature on Extension educators' competencies. It offers tips for attracting participants to Extension programs and sustaining their engagement. Additionally, the proposed rubric is a practical tool for educators to assess and ensure that all aspects of their programs are well-prepared for successful implementation and meaningful participant involvement.

Height Does Not Impair The Hydraulic System Of The Tallest Tropical Dipterocarp Trees, Paulo Bittencourt, Arne Scheire, Palasiah Jotan, Jehova Lourenço-Junior, Lindsay F. Banin, Mohd. Aminur Faiz Bin Suis, David Frp Burslem, Bradley O. Christoffersen, David Coomes, Peter Groenendijk

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Half of the aboveground biomass in forests is stored in a disproportionately small number of very tall trees. These giants are predicted to be more vulnerable to drought-induced damage because height impairs their hydraulic system. We evaluated whether the hydraulic system of world’s tallest tropical tree species—Southeast Asian dipterocarps—are negatively affected by their height. The more negative xylem pressures caused by tree height were fully compensated for through adjustment of vessel anatomy and leaf hydraulic traits, and the trees suffered no height-related loss in growth during a severe drought. Therefore, height does not make the hydraulic systems of the world’s …

Defining Contractile And Age-Specific Remodeling In Atrial Fibrillation, Hannah Cizauskas

Dissertations

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common cardiac arrythmia worldwide and is characterized by hallmarks including electrical, fibrotic, and hemodynamic remodeling, each of which can cause or be caused by alterations in the contractile apparatus. However, there is little known about contractile remodeling in AFib. While our current understanding of AFib lacks contractile remodeling, it also largely ignores the contribution of aging-induced remodeling. Aging is the strongest risk factor for AFib development, with most patients diagnosed with AFib over the age of 70, and aging also involves the three molecular hallmarks of AFib, which could explain increased susceptibility of AFib …

Soil And Crop Productivity Under On-Farm Vermiculture-Based Farming System At Smallholder Rates In The Sub-Humid Tropics, Felix Matheri, Edward Karanja, David Bautze, Milka Kiboi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Introduction – Vermiculture-based manures such as vermicompost and its byproducts like vermiculture are gaining importance as viable alternative soil amendments. This is practically feasible, especially in subsistence farming, by replacing common organic and synthetic inputs that are often costly and inaccessible to farmers. However, the effectiveness of vermiculture tea as a sole amendment or in combination with other inputs has not been tested under field conditions. Moreover, its longterm impact on soil and crop productivity has not been established. Methods – We conducted an on-farm field study in farmers' fields to evaluate the effects of sole vermiculture tea (Vermi), in …

First Photographic Record Of A Pale-Colored Wild Boar (Sus Scrofa) Consistent With Leucism In The Zagros Mountains, Iraqi Kurdistan, Bahez F. Ali, Hana A. Raza, Nabaz Horeni

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Pigmentation anomalies in wild mammals are rare and poorly documented in wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations. Leucism, characterized by partial loss of melanin while retaining normal eye pigmentation, represents one of the least frequently reported coloration anomalies in the species. During a camera-trap survey in Bamo Mountain, Zagros Mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan, an unusually pale-colored wild boar consistent with leucism was recorded. The individual exhibited cream to light-blond pelage with retained darker pigmentation on the snout and distal limbs, while the eyes remained normally pigmented. Its morphology and behavior were otherwise consistent with those of a typical wild …

Cultivating Narratives: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Higher Education Student-Led Farms And Gardens, Maximilan Sherard, Marc T. Sager

Publications

Despite extensive research on community agriculture, little attention has been paid to student-led farms or gardens (SFGs) in higher education contexts. SFGs represent a unique site for community agriculture due to their diverse stakeholders, academic affiliations, and the institutional policies they navigate. This study examines online promotional materials from 42 SFGs located on land-grant higher education campuses across the United States. Using critical discourse analysis, we (1) map these organizations’ practices and (2) identify competing discourses about community and agriculture within their promotional narratives. We identify and explain four core practices (membership, growing, distribution, and purpose) and connect these practices …

The Roles Of Shame In Ex-Christians' Personal Experiences And Deconversion Journeys, Anaya Bruno

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

Although the benefits of religion on individuals’ mental wellbeing have been well-studied, research exploring aspects of religion that may prove harmful to mental wellbeing is limited. This study explores the roles of shame in the experiences of ex-Christians that led to their deconversion. The study’s results have implications for understanding the experiences of religious trauma, considering that chronic shame has been linked to the development of trauma. Respondents, recruited via Reddit, answered survey questions about the ways in which they perceived shame to influence their religious experiences, personal experiences, and religious deconversion. Inductive thematic analysis was utilized to derive themes …

Learning About Gujarati: Cultural Identity And Family Language, Vritti Sodha

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

Language loss is a prevalent problem that is occurring in immigrant families in the United States. Since regional languages such as Gujarati are not used outside of households and community gatherings, it is not given much importance to learn. In order to combat this problem, community centers hold Gujarati classes for students of all ages to help preserve the language, but the lack of motivation to learn the language still remains. This is because a student needs to have a connection to the language to be motivated to learn it, which can be made through active learning. This study examines …

Man, Cut The Crop: Effects Of Cropectomies On Survival And Behavior In Drosophila Melanogaster, Emily Peraza

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

The gut-brain axis mediates communication between the digestive and nervous systems to regulate physiology and behavior. Its dysfunction profoundly impacts human health and causes disease. Region-specific hormones and neurotransmitters in the digestive system respond to several processes to signal the brain, but the mechanisms of gut-brain signaling are not fully defined. Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful model for studying gut biology by showing remarkable similarity to mammalian digestive systems, as both regulate energy by distributing nutrients. We refined a minimally invasive surgical protocol to remove the crop from adult flies. We then utilized the Activity Recording CAFE (ARC) and Drosophila …

Unwilling Consent Or Ravishment? Sexual Violence In Late Seventeenth-Century London, Susan Hernandez

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Exploring Gender Differences In Perceptions Of Ai's Impact On Social Media, Samkit Bothra

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping social media through content personalization and moderation, raising questions about its influence on public opinion and trust in digital news. Gender plays a key role in shaping perceptions of AI’s impact, with men and women potentially viewing its applications differently. This study explored gender-based perspectives on AI’s role in social media, focusing on its effects on information credibility and privacy. Data from 155 participants, collected via Amazon Mechanical Turk, were analyzed using IBM’s SPSS. The first hypothesis proposed that women would be more skeptical than men about AI's use in news, citing greater concerns …

Acknowledgements, Editorial Team

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Letter From The Editor, Ana Tyulmenkova

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The Hope College Department Of Biology: The First 50+ Years, Christopher C. Barney

Faculty Publications

The Hope College Department of Biology was founded in 1899 with the appointment of the first Professor of Biology at Hope, Samuel Mast. During the first 50+ years of the Biology Department, there were eight total faculty members in the department, including Frances Koeman, the first female faculty member in the natural sciences. Four faculty members, Mast, Frank Patterson, Oscar Thompson, and Teunis Vergeer were primarily responsible for developing the department’s curriculum and programs, with Mast and Vergeer also carrying out published research. The department was housed primarily in Van Raalte Hall and the Science Building (now Lubbers Hall) for …

Pearson Syndrome: Expanding The Clinical Spectrum Of A Mitochondrial Cytopathy-A Case Report, Alizah Faisal, Hooria Waqas, Hania Masood, Armeen Butt, Saad Rahman, Muhammad Sheraz Hameed, Syed Rafay Hussain Zaidi, Ali Iqbal, Muhammad Usama Naveed

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Pearson syndrome (PS) is a rare multisystem mitochondrial disorder characterized by single large-scale mitochondrial DNA deletions (SLSMDs). It typically presents in infancy with refractory sideroblastic anemia, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and failure to thrive. Due to its heterogeneous manifestations and resemblance to other hematological conditions, early diagnosis remains a clinical challenge.

CASE PRESENTATION: A south asian male infant presented with persistent pancytopenia, severe anemia unresponsive to intravenous and oral iron and multivitamin supplements, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, failure to thrive, and metabolic acidosis. Born to consanguineous parents, the child had a significant family history of early infant deaths and hematological abnormalities. …

A Remarkable Diversity Of Syngnathid Fishes In A Highly Modified Large Coastal Embayment In The Southeastern Indian Ocean, Glenn I. Moore, Jenelle A. Ritchie, Georgia M. Nester, Glenn A. Hyndes, Alan J. Kendrick

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Southern Australia supports a high diversity of fishes in the family Syngnathidae, which is recognised as globally threatened, facing threats from coastal development, over-exploitation and bycatch. In southwestern Australia, Cockburn Sound houses a large industrial port and naval defence assets with plans to substantially expand the port facilities but also sits within a recognised syngnathid ‘hotspot’. Using a broad array of data sources, including historical museum vouchers, published records, historical and contemporary observations from notebooks and diving surveys, historical and contemporary trawl surveys, citizen science observations and environmental DNA, we compiled 4839 records of syngnathid fishes from the embayment. Twenty-one …

Purdue University Extension Program Evaluation Professional Development Pilot Study To Assess Evaluation Competencies Among Educators, Mariah K. Awan, Rama Radhakrishna, Hui-Hui Wang

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

For the first part of this study, we conducted a descriptive research study with Purdue Extension educators to determine their evaluation competencies and their perceived level of importance for evaluation activities. We also asked about their competence in evaluation methods. For part two, we interviewed Purdue Extension administrators about their perceptions of Program Evaluation as a whole within Indiana Extension. The interview protocol questions were related to perceived roles of administrators, perceived strengths and opportunities for Purdue Extension Program Evaluation efforts, evaluation knowledge needed by educators, and possible future evaluation directions for Purdue Extension. We found that educators indicated mid-level …

Working Out Loud Resilience In Cooperative Extension: Results From An Internal Pilot Program, Lyndi M. Buckingham-Schutt, Debra Sellers, Barbara Dunn Swanson, Jody Catherine Gatewood

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

This study evaluates Working Out Loud (WOL) Resilience, a program designed to enhance resilience through peer-to-peer learning, targeting social isolation and self-determination. The WOL Resilience pilot program, delivered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach facilitators, included 29 participants and 5 facilitators over 8 weeks. Participants engaged in weekly sessions focusing on 8 resilience attributes. Evaluation included baseline, midpoint, and post surveys; facilitator feedback forms; and interviews. Results showed improvements in resilience attributes from baseline to post-program and indicated high program acceptability and positive behavioral changes. The peer-to-peer learning model proved beneficial for participants and feasible for delivery through Extension …

Needs Assessment For Evaluation Competencies Among Extension And Outreach Professionals, Mariah K. Awan, Hui-Hui Wang, Rama Radhakrishna

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

We conducted an extensive literature review to develop an assessment tool with both quantitative and qualitative items that can be used to conduct a statewide needs assessment of professional development needs in program evaluation for Extension educators and similar non-profit organizations. This tool can be used to identify priority topics for evaluating professional development trainings and materials. It can be easily distributed via Qualtrics. The results of the literature review and the needs assessment survey instrument are shared.

Agricultural Extension Agents’ Perceptions Regarding The Use Of Social Media In Extension Work, Howard M. Wallace Ii, K. S. U. Jayaratne, Wendy Warner, Dara Bloom, Julia Mckeown

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Social media enables Extension agents to reach a large group of clients efficiently. However, research on agricultural Extension agents’ perceptions about social media use in Extension work is limited. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of agricultural Extension agents regarding the use of social media in Extension work. This was a descriptive research study conducted online. Findings confirmed that agricultural Extension agents in North Carolina State find social media helpful in Extension work, such as for the distribution of information to their clients and extending its reach to a larger audience. Extension agents perceive that using …

Geomapping With Python: An Innovative Data Visualization Technique, Tirna Purkait, Dipti Dev

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Making Digital Connections: Extension Educators’ Perceptions And Use Of Qr Codes, Kobina D. Fanyinkah, Jefferson D. Miller, Casandra Cox, Will Doss

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

While Extension educators recognize the potential of digital tools for outreach, there are still barriers to adoption, effective implementation, and acceptance. The goal of this study was to evaluate Extension educators’ perceptions concerning quick-reponse (QR) codes in outreach activities, including their effectiveness, integration, and barriers faced when using them. The study used a qualitative approach in the form of semi-structured interviews of twelve Extension professionals purposely sampled from the Ozark region of the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Participants perceived the effective use of the technology to be related to their target clients’ age and technological proficiency. Additionally, Extension professionals reported …