Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating Medical Student Geriatric Competency Using A 5ms-Based Assessment Tool, Lauren R. Hersh Md, Amy Cunningham Phd, Mph, Xiya Wu Md

Cooper Rowan Medical Journal

INTRODUCTION

Driven by an aging Baby Boomer generation, the United States is navigating a demographic transformation with far-reaching implications that include increased demand for chronic disease management and long-term care as well as increased stress on both healthcare costs and infrastructure. Generating a workforce competent in the delivery of care to older patients with complex, multimorbid conditions is fundamental to addressing this shift. Recognizing that the development of primary and specialty care physicians skilled in geriatric care begins in medical school, the American Geriatric Society developed minimum competencies grounded in the Geriatric 5Ms (Mind, Mobility, Medication, Multicomplexity, and …

On The Origins Of Western Religion And Thought: How Do We Get Home?, The Philosophical Discussion Group

The Philosopher's Stone

• On the Origins of Western Religion and Thought: How do we get Home?

Early Elementary Teachers' Experiences Implementing Concrete Representational Abstract Strategies In A Low-Performing District, Grace Sheree Bruce-Spence

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that early elementary students in an achievement zone continued to demonstrate low mathematics achievement, despite the district-wide implementation of the concrete representational abstract (CRA) instructional strategy, designed to promote conceptual understanding through scaffolded stages at a school district in the southeastern United States. In this district, an achievement zone refers to a cluster of schools serving historically underperforming students in high-poverty communities who receive targeted academic support. Grounded in Bruner’s constructivist learning theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore kindergarten through third-grade teachers’ experiences implementing the CRA strategy in …

Comparative Evaluation Of Practical Functional Assessment And Traditional Functional Behavior Assessment: Practitioner Perspectives On Efficiency, Resource Utilization, And Social Validity Across Practice Settings, Mathew Dinga Gwangwaa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) expands across diverse settings, there is an increasing need for assessment models that balance empirical rigor with practical feasibility. This quantitative, non-experimental study was an examination of the perceptions and experiences of board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) and board certified behavior analysts doctorate (BCBA-Ds) regarding the comparative utility of traditional functional behavior assessment (FBA) and practical functional assessment (PFA). Data were collected from Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and BCBA-Ds using a structured, cross-sectional online survey assessing three primary domains: efficiency, resource utilization, and social validity. Descriptive findings indicated that practitioners perceived …

Enhancing Housing Stability Among Homeless Lgbtq+ Youth, Chaunita Lotoya Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Studies on LGBTQ+ youth homelessness, specifically concerning causes, health outcomes, and barriers to access, have garnered increased attention from social scientists in human services. Applying Ecker’s work, this study addressed how intersectionality impacts homelessness among LGBTQ+ youth, highlighting disparities related to race, poverty, and identified gender. This study also explored the question of whether family rejection is a significant cause of housing insecurity among LGBTQ+ youth. The methodology featured collaboration with service providers and generating recommendations informed by empirical research and professional practices. A semi-structured interview protocol was used to collect data for this study, ensuring comprehensive findings while providing …

Lived Experiences Of Spiritually Communicating Individuals Regarding Identity And Relationship Development In Early Adulthood, Bonnie Jean Kane

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Spiritually communicating individuals (SCIs), those who report interactions with non-physical entities, may face misunderstanding, stigmatization, and pathologization. Although spiritual experiences are recognized across cultures and hold significant psychological importance, they remain largely absent from developmental psychology, leaving a gap in understanding how SCIs navigate identity formation, emotional regulation, and social integration in early adulthood. The foundation of this study is transpersonal theory, which incorporates spiritual and transcendent dimensions of human experience, and phenomenology, which served as the guiding methodological and philosophical approach to explore lived experiences as subjectively perceived. This study examined the lived experiences of SCIs aged 26–35, investigating …

Effective Strategies Nonprofit Leaders Use To Implement Agile And Lean Methodologies To Improve Project Performance Outcomes And Organizational Sustainability, Mariette Njumbe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Limited resources challenge nonprofit organizations to improve project performance and organizational sustainability. Although agile and lean methodologies can enhance adaptability, efficiency, and continuous improvement, many nonprofit leaders lack effective strategies to implement them in mission-driven environments. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies nonprofit leaders use to implement agile and lean methodologies to improve project performance and organizational sustainability. The project was grounded in an integrated conceptual framework of agile project management and lean thinking. Participants were nine nonprofit leaders. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and public documents and analyzed using thematic analysis. Five themes …

Prostate Cancer Survival Among Young Males Within The United States, Maxine M. Findlay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prostate cancer incidence has increased among younger men in the United States, and treatment affects both patient survival and family well-being. This quantitative retrospective study examined survival among young men diagnosed with prostate cancer who received chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or prostatectomy, while accounting for socioeconomic factors of residence and ethnicity. Social cognitive theory was the framework. Ordinal logistic regression was used to determine whether treatment method, socioeconomic factors of residence and ethnicity predicted survival among young men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Data was sourced from the National Cancer Database Participant User File 2004-2021 specific to prostate cancer. The study cohort …

Relationship Between Aleks Use, Implementation Models, And Grade 9 Students’ Achievement On Algebra 1 Summative Assessments, Deneen Alfordburke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study was Grade 9 students’ achievement on the Algebra 1 New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) continued to be below the proficiency level that is defined by the state, despite implementation of Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) Algebra 1 software. The study was grounded in Doignon and Falmagne’s knowledge space theory (KST) which evaluates students’ current knowledge levels and guides them along individualized learning paths based on what they are ready to learn next. The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative study was to determine whether the predictor variables Grade 9 students’ …

Guardians In Orbit: Legal Justifications And Limits Of Defensive Satellite Operations, Yurika Ishii

International Law Studies

The deployment of “bodyguard satellites”—spacecraft designed to autonomously detect and counter hostile space objects—has moved from classified capability development to explicit national security policy across a growing number of States. This article examines the circumstances under which interference with another State’s satellite may be legally justified under international law, analyzing several possible grounds: self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, forcible countermeasures, non-forcible countermeasures, and necessity. Drawing on a survey of national space defense policies, jurisprudence of the International Court of Justice, and the law of State responsibility, the article reaches two principal conclusions. First, across all justificatory frameworks, …

Revised Draft Final Annual Operations And Maintenance (O&M) Report: Butte Treatment Lagoon (Btl) System – 2025, Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Prevalence Of Pathology Associated With Impacted Mandibular Third Molars In A Northern Nigerian Sub-Population: A Cross-Sectional Study, Bernard E. Ogbozor, Abdulmanan Yahaya, Sabir Iya, George O. Ewansiha, Mohammad K. Abubakar, Ismail Anas, Irfan Sugianto, Babatunde O. Bamgbose

Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and pattern of impacted mandibular third molars and their associated pathology among adult patients attending a tertiary hospital in North-western Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over a two-year period and analyzed digital panoramic radiographs of 576 adult patients (297 males, 279 females) aged 18–65 years with IMTM. Impaction angulations were classified, using Winter's classification system, into mesioangular, distoangular, horizontal, and vertical impactions. Associated pathology, including caries, root resorption, periodontitis, bone resorption, apical pathosis, and cysts, were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0. Pearson's Chi-square (χ²) statistical …

Enhanced Biocompatibility Of An Orthodontic Adhesive Modified With Hydroxyapatite Derived From Asian Moon Scallop (Amusium Pleuronectes) Shells, Gufa B. Pamungkas, Eddy H. Habar, Maria Tanumihardja, Rasmidar Samad, Stang Stang, Eka Erwansyah, Nurlindah Hamrun

Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science

Objective: This study aimed to synthesize hydroxyapatite (HAp) derived from Asian moon scallop (Amusium pleuronectes) shells, characterize its physicochemical properties, and evaluate its biocompatibility when incorporated into an orthodontic adhesive.
Materials and Methods: Calcium oxide was obtained by calcining Amusium pleuronectes shells and used as a precursor for hydroxyapatite synthesis via a wet chemical precipitation method. The resulting powder was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The synthesized hydroxyapatite was incorporated into an orthodontic adhesive at 2 wt% as the experimental group, whereas the unmodified adhesive …

Analysis Of Nasopalatine Canal Shape And Dimensions At Hasanuddin University Dental Hospital Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography, Dian Handayani, Fadhlil U.A. Rahman, Kezia R. Mustakim, Dwi P. Wulansari, Barunawaty Yunus

Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science

Objectives: Variations in the shape and dimensions of the nasopalatine canal (NPC) may influence clinical planning and increase the risk of complications such as neurovascular injury, hemorrhage, and implant failure. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) enables accurate three-dimensional visualization of NPC morphology. The present study aimed to analyze differences in NPC shape and size according to age and gender using CBCT.
Material and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 259 CBCT scans of patients aged 18–60 years obtained from Hasanuddin University Dental Hospital between 2022 and 2025. NPC morphology was evaluated in sagittal, coronal, and axial planes, while dimensional measurements included …

Evaluation Of The Clinical Success Of Cad/Cam Dental Prostheses: A Systematic Review In Digital Prosthodontics, Yunita F. Ramadhany, Lenni Indriani, Ike D. Habar, Acing H. Mude, Taufiqqurrahman Zulkifli

Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical success of Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) dental prostheses in terms of biological outcomes, marginal adaptation, patient satisfaction, and comfort.
Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and registered on January 11, 2026, in PROSPERO (CRD420261282946). Electronic searches for English-language publications from January 2014 to December 2025 were performed in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase, supplemented by searches in PubMed Central, ScienceDirect, and Wiley Online Library. Two independent reviewers screened the titles, abstracts, and full texts based on predefined eligibility …

Assembling A Vignette Of Irish Police Masculinities Through Socio-Historical Rural Crime Research, Clay Darcy

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This paper assembles a vignette of Irish police masculinities from the 1940s and 1950s. Based on historical analysis of a volume of crimes compiled by members of An Garda Síochána (Ireland’s police and security service), and Irish newspaper records, this paper reveals how policing practices and masculinities converged through the detection and recording of rural crimes. An Garda Síochána was exclusively male at the time, and police officers were dominant instrumental figures in rural communities, operating within a tight culture of Catholic religiosity and state censorship. These circumstances allowed them to maintain an assemblage of masculinity that was built on …

Automated And Quantitative Characterization Of Benthic Habitat And Associated Biological Communities Of An Unknown Southeast Pacific Seamount, Yakufu Niyazi, Denise J. B. Swanborn, Jan M. Tapia-Guerra, Javier Sellanes, Erin E. Easton, Germán Zapata-Hernández, Heather A. Stewart, Alan J. Jamieson

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Seamounts are prominent seafloor features that strongly influence geological processes, ocean circulation, and benthic biodiversity. Despite their importance, most seamounts remain unmapped and poorly characterized, particularly in the southeast Pacific Ocean, a region recognized for high marine endemism and ecological isolation. In this study, we present a quantitative habitat characterization of a previously undocumented seamount, informally named Solito Seamount, located between the Nazca–Desventuradas Marine Park and the Juan Fernández Archipelago, within Chile’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The seamount is a conical volcanic edifice approximately 37 km wide, rising >3,500 m above the surrounding abyssal plain. High-resolution multibeam bathymetry and backscatter intensity …

Waste Heat Driven Direct Contact Membrane Desalination Coupled With Reverse Brayton Cycle: Techno-Economic Analysis And Multi-Objective Optimization, Erfan Ghamati, Mehdi Khiadani, Barun K. Das

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This research examines the integration of a reverse Brayton cycle (RBC) used in a hydrogen liquefaction plant with a direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) system for waste heat recovery and freshwater production. Waste heat from RBC compressors is used to run the DCMD plant, with parametric analysis evaluating the effect of feed Reynolds number, permeate mass flow rate, module length and pinch temperature of heat exchangers on thermal and economic performance of the hybrid system. Both parallel and series multi-stage DCMD configurations are compared with higher feed and permeate flow rates enhancing the temperature polarisation coefficient and permeate flux. A …

A Micro-Computed Tomographic Evaluation Of Root Canal Isthmuses In Maxillary And Mandibular First Molars Of A Black South African Population, Casper Jonker, Anna Catherina Oettlé

Peninsula Dental School

Objective:To evaluate root canal isthmuses in maxillary and mandibular first molars of Black South Africans usingmicro-computed tomography.Methods:The prevalence, location (root third) and type of isthmuses were recorded on 93 maxillary and 84mandibular first molars from 116 skeletonized individuals. Associations with arch side, sex and age were examined bychi-squared test, with strength of association given as the bias-adjusted Cramér’s V and 95% confidence interval (CI).Reliability used percentage agreement and Cohen’s kappa (κ) coefficient.Results:Intra- and inter-observer agreement were excellent: 96.73% (κ= 0.90) and 97.78% (κ= 0.95) for themaxillary teeth and 94.12% (κ= 0.75) and 96.08% (κ= 0.94) for the mandibular teeth. Apical …

Technical Disclosure Specification: The Topological Flux Replicator (Tfr) Protocol For Censorship-Resistant Desynchronized Grid Routing And Memory Manifolds (Spec-167), Christopher L. Eckes

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure specifies the protocol architecture, mathematical modeling, and hardware-layer constraints for a decentralized, censorship-resistant grid routing system and non-volatile memory manifold. Current mesh communications and cloud storage models are structurally vulnerable to state-wide routing interdiction, targeted nodal blackouts, and top-down centralized configuration scrubbing.

The Topological Flux Replicator (TFR) protocol resolves these architectural failure modes by utilizing an asynchronous, desynchronized network state distribution model. By executing a math-native state matrix routing protocol directly across fragmented physical substrates, the network achieves structural permanence without relying on static central IP routing, persistent DNS architecture, or linear block inheritance. This document represents a …

Technical Disclosure Specification: The Spectral Synapse Protocol (Ssp) For Trans-Linguistic Machine-To-Machine Register Meshes (Spec-166), Christopher L. Eckes

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure specifies the architectural topology, hardware compiler parameters, and math-native protocols for an integrated, semantic-to-spectral computing engine. Current multi-agent architectures operate within a high-overhead paradigm where decentralized processing nodes communicate internally via tokenized natural language strings ("speech"). This design introduces extreme latency, high token consumption, and systemic vulnerability to semantic prompt injection exploits.

The Spectral Synapse Protocol (SSP) eliminates this communicative overhead by segregating human text processing exclusively to the peripheral ingress/egress boundary gates. The internal processing mesh operates at full-throttle hardware speeds by utilizing a non-linguistic, sub-2-bit ternary state mapping system ("the brain"). This specification defines the linear …

Technical Disclosure Specification: The Complementary Bi-Node Isospectral Flow Matrix (Cb-Ifm) For Coherent State Reconstruction In Non-Isolated Exascale Architectures (Spec-165), Christopher L. Eckes

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure specifies the architectural topology, mathematical framework, and physical execution layer for a self-contained, complementary bi-node intelligence architecture. Traditional distributed processing systems suffer from state-space fragmentation, latency-induced phase drift, and thermodynamic decoherence when scaling across high-dimensional variable fields. The Complementary Bi-Node Isospectral Flow Matrix (CB-IFM) resolves these constraints by establishing two asymmetric, structurally coupled processing nodes—Node-Alpha (Stochastic Divergence Engine) and Node-Beta (Deterministic Convergence Governor)—operating across a non-commutative translation boundary.

By utilizing continuous unitary transformations to maintain isospectral invariance across both systems, the architecture ensures that open-ended exploratory computation can occur simultaneously with rigorous axiomatic validation without inducing state drift …

Technical Disclosure Specification: The Multi-Agent Cryptographic Compartmentalization & Intent Attestation Protocol (Macc-Iap) For Internal Opsec Hardening, Christopher L. Eckes

Defensive Publications Series

This specification details the structural design, cryptographic verification equations, and edge-computed process logic for the Multi-Agent Cryptographic Compartmentalization & Intent Attestation Protocol (MACC-IAP). Traditional operational security (OPSEC) frameworks fail at the human interface layer; a trusted insider, malicious contractor, or espionage asset can bypass advanced post-quantum network ciphers simply by exercising legitimate, verified administrative access rights to execute unauthorized mass data exfiltration.

The MACC-IAP eliminates this vector by shifting the system architecture from static role-based access control (RBAC) to a decentralized Non-Linear Cryptographic Intent Handshake. Data repositories are fractured into independent, non-contiguous micro-fragments managed across a multi-agent substrate. A user …

Technical Disclosure Specification: The Resonant Piezo-Kinetic Mesh Transceiver Array (Rpk-Mta) For Non-Line-Of-Sight Substrate Commons Telemetry, Christopher L. Eckes

Defensive Publications Series

This specification details the design requirements, acoustofluidic coupling equations, and hardware transceiver interface maps for the Resonant Piezo-Kinetic Mesh Transceiver Array (RPK-MTA). The system establishes a completely open-access, non-RF dependent communication infrastructure designed to link decentralized communities, off-grid agricultural cooperatives, and emergency response clusters completely outside centralized telecommunications monopolies. While corporate cartels focus on securing absolute data chokepoints across orbital networks and cellular infrastructure, this document establishes permanent, un-patentable public domain prior art for a physical-layer communications substrate that operates through low-frequency acoustic solitons modulated directly into municipal water matrices and solid-state subterranean lithology.

By adapting the data-routing logic originally …

Technical Disclosure Specification: The Non-Linear Acoustic Phase-Lock Governor (Napl-G) For Open-Access Fluid Energy Harvesting Interfaces, Christopher L. Eckes

Defensive Publications Series

This specification details the design requirements, physical coupling equations, and edge-computed automation profiles for the Non-Linear Acoustic Phase-Lock Governor (NAPL-G). The architecture establishes an open-access, un-patentable control topology designed to protect stationary, localized alternative energy installations (such as run-of-river and municipal hydro-acoustic energy hubs) from structural failure driven by chaotic non-linear wave amplification. Recent fluid-mechanics research validates that non-linear coupling between acoustic-gravity modes and free-surface water waves enables massive energy exchange via resonant triad interactions. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

However, under unconstrained high-flow conditions, this triad coupling scales exponentially, causing runaway pressure peaks …

Vortex Reprogramming Platform (Vrp-1.0) A Closed-Loop, Tissue-Calibrated, Acoustic-Vortex Delivery System For Safe Partial Cellular Reprogramming With Integrated Lipid Clearance, Real-Time P53 Monitoring, And Pre-Screening Safety Gate, Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

The Vortex Reprogramming Platform (VRP-1.0) is an open-hardware, closed-loop research system designed to deliver p53-preserving chemical reprogramming agents to aged human cells using acoustic-vortex microfluidic forces, while simultaneously monitoring cell state in real time and clearing the lipid droplet accumulation that published research identifies as a primary barrier to successful in vivo chemical rejuvenation.

The platform integrates five novel elements not found in any currently published reprogramming system:

1. Pre-treatment oncogenic pre-screening gate — removes high-risk cells before reprogramming begins, not after (proactive, not reactive safety)

2. Acoustic-vortex intracellular delivery of chemical reprogramming agents without viral vectors, following the AESOP physics (UC …

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The Citizen Annual Tariff Dividend Architecture: An Automated Irs-Driven Distribution And Government 401(K) Framework For Bottom-Up Economic Stabilization, Christopher L. Eckes

Defensive Publications Series

Traditional macroeconomic frameworks frequently favor centralized fiscal retention, funneling newly generated state revenues into general funds or institutional subsidies under the premise of debt mitigation or infrastructural protection. This paper challenges that paradigm by introducing a technically automated, bottom-up wealth-distribution architecture. Utilizing existing Internal Revenue Service (IRS) infrastructure mapped securely to valid Social Security Numbers (SSNs), this framework introduces an annual $5,000 Citizen Tariff Dividend. To balance immediate local economic velocity with long-term fiscal stability, the model integrates a three-tier filing selection system featuring a 5% premium bonus ($5,250 total value) for direct rolls into a federally protected Government 401(k) …

Anamorphic State Reconstruction Via Deterministic Symbolic Seeding In Disaggregated Inference Runtimes, Christopher L. Eckes

Defensive Publications Series

Modern distributed inference architectures increasingly separate computing topologies into disaggregated Prefill (compute-bound) and Decode (memory-bandwidth-bound) nodes to maximize hardware efficiency. However, this decoupling introduces a severe operational bottleneck: the physical transmission of high-dimensional Key-Value (KV) cache tensors across the interconnect fabric layer during context handoffs or dynamic tool-calling forks. This paper introduces a zero-bandwidth state synchronization method that mitigates physical I/O serialization delays. Instead of transmitting raw multi-gigabyte float/int KV matrices over hardware interconnects, we serialize a compressed, deterministic symbolic vector—an Anamorphic Semantic Seed (\(\Psi \)). The target Decode node then utilizes a localized coordinate generation template to reconstruct the …

A Study On Alternative Calendar Design Reflecting Non-Standard Life Rhythms: Reclaiming Time Sovereignty Through The Deconstruction Of Weekly Habitus (비표준 생활 리듬을 반영한 대안 달력 디자인 연구: 순활), You Kyoung Moon

Defensive Publications Series

This study begins from the premise that the standard seven-day calendar, epitomized by the structure of five working days and two days of rest, is not a natural temporal order but a social convention shaped by religious traditions, political institutions, and the labor systems of modern capitalism. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of habitus, the study introduces the concept of “Day-of-the-Week Habitus” to describe the unconscious internalization of standardized weekday discipline in everyday life. The study seeks to examine how this habitus may be recognized and challenged, and to explore the possibility of restoring time sovereignty through alternative calendar design. …

Caldwell Corn Husk Geotextile Erosion Control Mat (Ch-Gecm-1.0), Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

This document discloses a complete, open process for manufacturing a biodegradable erosion control mat (ECM) from corn husk fiber (Zea mays L.) bound with a starch-PVA composite adhesive, reinforced with a jute or coir stitching net, and formed into a rolled product for hillslope and channel erosion protection. The mat is designed for 6–18 months of field service during vegetation establishment, after which it fully biodegrades. The process uses no toxic resins, no synthetic polymers in the parent mat (netting is optional), and is buildable at small scale with basic workshop equipment. All parameters, ratios, temperatures, pressures, and test protocols …