Digital Commons Network^™

Debating Justice, Tom Rozinski

Open Touro Created

2025

This book introduces students to a modified form of Lincoln-Douglas debate that is suitable for use in college philosophy or political science courses. Students will learn how to make good arguments and identify bad ones. They will learn how to structure the affirmative and negative cases in debate and the specific duties of each speech in the debate. There is also a section on preparing for, conducting, and defending against cross-examination. Students learn about four value systems to use in their debates: utilitarianism, libertarianism, Kantian justice, and Rawlsian justice. The text includes two full debates to illustrate how students …

Early Palliative Care In Heart Failure, Meadow Stempek, Beverly Balfe, Jennifer Tantarelli

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Bachelor Of Science In Professional Management, Nova Southeastern University

Undergraduate Programs Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Partner Performance Evaluation, Disclosure Of Key Audit Matters, And Audit Quality, Shenghua Chen

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Transparency of information and audit quality are crucial for the efficiency and stability of the market. The disclosure of key audit matters has become an essential part of audit reports, yet there remains widespread debate regarding the role of key audit matters. This study finds a significant positive correlation between the extent of key audit matter disclosures and audit quality. Detailed disclosures can enhance information transparency, strengthen auditors’ sense of responsibility, and reduce information asymmetry. However, over-templating may have negative effects on audit quality, leading to a lack of personalized judgment by auditors. Additionally, this paper suggests that the partner …

"Eu Got That Rizz": Discursive Contestation In Comments About The European Commission's Use Of Memes For Government Communication, Manuel R. Enverga Iii

European Studies Department Faculty Publications

This commentary article explores audience responses to the European Commission's use of memetic content on its Instagram page. Using inductive thematic analysis, this study explained how discursive contestation was manifested in commenters' opposing views about the institution's use of memes. The discourse historical approach elucidated how comments drew upon contextual factors, such as: (1) the humorous and juvenile nature of memes; (2) current events and Europe's role in them; and (3) erroneous understandings about the EU's structure and capabilities. In terms of its contribution to the academic literature, this commentary article's focus on memes as a form of government communication …

European Digital Diplomacy And The Sino-Philippine Territorial Disputes In The South China Sea, Manuel R. Enverga

European Studies Department Faculty Publications

This chapter examines the digital diplomatic articulations produced by European states about the Sino-Philippine territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Using social media data from the official accounts of diplomatic missions in the Philippines, this chapter presents data showing that European countries did not engage in concerted action with regard to the conflict between the Philippine and Chinese governments. It is argued that the heterogeneity in their online activities can be explained by the imperative to balance a complex set of priorities, including alignment with the post-World War II rules-based international order or their preference not to antagonize the …

Analysis Of Safety Investment : Economic Benefit In Arctic Shipping To Shipping Companies And The Arctic Coastal States, Junjie Wan

World Maritime University Ph.D. Dissertations

Global warming severely affects the Arctic region, including ice coverage and thickness. In contrast, it allows unprecedented navigation opportunities for more extended periods each year, attracting maritime stakeholders because of the potential distance reduction compared to shipping corridor routes. However, mitigating Arctic navigation hazards requires safety investments, especially from shipowners and Arctic coastal states. When allocating limited resources to safety, decision-makers should efficiently prioritize their investments. This research aims to determine how to optimize shipping companies and Arctic coastal states’ safety investments. It begins with a comprehensive analysis of safety investments and safety economic benefits in Arctic shipping. Then, an …

Hydrogen-Enriched Lng As A Mid-Term Solution To Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Shipping, Kang-Ki Lee

World Maritime University Ph.D. Dissertations

In light of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) ambitious Initial GHG Strategy, the rise in international shipping’s carbon dioxide emissions by 2 percent in 2022 compared to 2019 poses a formidable challenge. This increase underscores the pressing need to address the limited availability of green hydrogen, prompting the exploration of mid-term solutions to bridge this critical gap. The IMO’s 2023 Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships attempted to tackle this challenge head-on, recognizing the urgency of reducing the industry’s substantial carbon footprint. While hydrogen offers a simple solution as a zero-carbon fuel, LNG remains the most widespread alternative …

Charting A Sustainable Course Beyond Carbon : A Critical Carbon-Water-Energy Assessment Of Net-Zero Shipping Scenarios With Synthetic Fuels And Ghc Offsetting, Alexandre Bellot

World Maritime University Ph.D. Dissertations

This thesis extends the scope of IMO maritime decarbonization studies by incorporating cradle-to-grave approaches. This study advocates for an approach incorporating cradle-to-grave resource efficiency and carbon neutrality, assessing cumulative energy demand and net freshwater withdrawal as key sustainability metrics. The thesis specifically addresses the question of the sustainability of decarbonization strategies centred on substituting fossil fuels with synthetic alternatives and offsetting the remaining carbon footprint. Advanced ship energy modelling: The thesis first introduces a ship energy model capable of evaluating ships’ fuel consumption with various propulsion and energy generation options. The model simulates energy transfers across a concept ship’s systems, …

A Discourse Analysis Of The Development Of Institutional Compliance Mechanisms At The International Maritime Organization, Rebecca Pskowski

World Maritime University Ph.D. Dissertations

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) plays a pivotal and essential role in international maritime governance, providing a forum for nation states to develop and agree to international standards for maritime safety and security and the protection of the marine environment. IMO is widely perceived to be one of the most successful universal international organizations (IOS), because of the high technical quality of the conventions and other legal instruments it develops, and the near-universal acceptance of most of those instruments. IMO could be seen as an exemplar of the "technical" specialized United Nations agency, where nation-states set aside politics to agree …

Safety And Sustainability In The Domestic Ferry Sector : A Pci Framework For Esg-Aligned Maritime Governance, Mirza Zeeshan Baig

World Maritime University Ph.D. Dissertations

The domestic ferry sector is a significant component of maritime transportation. It strengthens social ties, supports economic growth and connects communities. Despites its importance, this industry faces ongoing challenges. These include fragmented governance, operational adequacies, safety risks and environmental concerns. The study deals with these issues by combining a systems-based approach with governance and change management theories. It examines the interplay between human, technical and organizational aspects. The study integrates the rule-based and rights-based maritime governance along with the Lewin’s three stage change management model (Unfreeze, Change, and Refreeze).

At the core of the study is the development of a …

Protective Effects Of Calligonum Comosum As A Natural Remedy To Counteract Pregabalin-Induced Toxicity: Insights From Chemical Profiling, In Vivo, And In Silico Analyses, Smail Mehda, Ibtissam Laib, Feriel Diab, Raounek Attia, Yousef Benaissa, Attia Hanane, Khiari Rayhana, Meriem Bellabidi, Huda Alsaeedi, David Croun, Mikhael Bechelany, Ahmed Barhoum

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This study explores the therapeutic potential of Calligonum comosum extract in alleviating pregabalin (PGB)-induced toxicity in male Wistar rats, with a focus on hepatic, renal, and reproductive health. PGB exposure led to significant biochemical disturbances, including elevated liver enzymes (AST, ALT, LDH), impaired kidney markers (urea, creatinine, uric acid), reduced reproductive hormones (testosterone, FSH, LH), and notable histopathological damage in liver, kidney, and testicular tissues. Treatment with C. comosum extract effectively restored liver and kidney functions and partially corrected hormonal imbalances. The extract reduced AST, ALT, and LDH levels by 18.5%, 25.2%, and 13.7%, respectively. Similarly, urea, creatinine, and uric …

Enhanced Wound Healing With Flaxseed Extract-Loaded Polyvinyl Alcohol Nanofibrous Scaffolds: Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity, And Antimicrobial Properties, Ahmed G. Abdelaziz, Hassan Nageh, Mohga S. Abdalla, Sara M. Abdo, Asmaa A. Amer, Samah A. Loutfy, Ali Alsalme, David Cornu, Mikhael Bechelany, Ahmed Barhoum

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This study aimed to develop and optimize composite nanofibrous scaffolds for enhanced wound healing and antimicrobial applications. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers loaded with ethanolic flaxseed extract were fabricated via solution electrospinning. The methodology focused on optimizing key parameters, including polymer-to-extract ratio, swelling ratio, hydrolytic degradation, and nanofiber mean diameter, to achieve superior scaffold properties. The optimized scaffold, with a PVA-to-flaxseed extract weight ratio of 70:30 (PV70:FS30), exhibited bead-free morphology and a mean fiber diameter of 319 nm (compared to 175 nm for pure PVA fibers). PV70:FS30 scaffolds demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity, effectively inhibiting both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial growth. Moreover, …

An Experimental Investigation Of The Effect Of The Velocity Ratio On The Flow And Wall Heat Transfer Characteristics Of A Wall-Bounded Dual Jet, Paula J. Murphy, Sajad Alimohammadi, Séamus M. O'Shaughnessy

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

A wall-bounded dual jet, consisting of a wall jet and a co-flowing offset jet, possesses a complex flow structure that has proved advantageous across many industrial applications. Despite this, dual jets remain relatively unexplored through experimentation and their flow phenomena are largely misunderstood. This investigation is the first to examine the effect of varying the velocity ratio (V_r) on the flow and heat transfer behaviour of a dual jet through experimental means. A velocity ratio range of 0.5≤V_r≤2 is achieved by varying each jet Reynolds number (Re_w/o) in the range 5500≤Re_w/o≤12,000. Infrared …

Hydrothermal Behavior Of A Novel Conical Twisted Strip Turbulator In A Heated Tube: A Numerical Analysis, Azher M. Abed, Bhavesh Kanabar, T. Ramachandran, Aman Shankhyan, Jasgurpreet Singh Chohan, A. Karthikeyan, Deepak Gupta, Bashir Salah, Waqas Saleem

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

The increasing use of heated pipes and heat exchangers has created a pressing need to enhance thermal efficiency. This research introduces a novel turbulator design known as the conical twisted strip turbulator. The turbulator design resembles a cone and is composed of several twisted strip tentacles. This unique configuration is expected to generate strong rotational and radial flow patterns, leading to enhanced heat transfer. A numerical analysis was conducted using the RNG k-epsilon model to investigate various geometric parameters of the turbulator. The study examined the twisted angle, which varied from 60 to 270°, the number of twisted strip tentacles, …

Aspen Plus Modelling Of The Milena Dual Fluidised Bed Biomass Gasifier Technology, Mohadeseh Naderi, Hamid Rashidi, Anthony Reynolds, Wayne Doherty

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

The Energy Research Centre of The Netherlands is developing MILENA gasification technology to convert biomass fuels into high-value gaseous and liquid products. MILENA is a steam-blown dual fluidised bed (DFB) gasification process with separate gasification and combustion zones. This DFB gasifier produces high-quality gas with low N₂ content suitable for vehicle fuel or natural gas grid injection. This study presents a semi-kinetic Aspen Plus model for MILENA gasification, including stages like drying, rapid pyrolysis, gasification, combustion, and tar cracking and reforming. Pyrolysis as a key step, was modelled using experimental data for the rapid pyrolysis of wood to calculate …

Tailoring Innovative Silver Nanoparticles For Modern Medicine: The Importance Of Size And Shape Control And Functional Modifications, Ibtissam Laib, Noura Gheraissa, Abir Benaissa, Latra Benkhira, Manel Azzi, Yousef Benaissa, Ahmed G. Abdelaziz, Furong Tian, Maureen Walsh, Mikhael Bechelany, Ahmed Barhoum

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) play a significant role in modern medicine, with their size, shape, and surface chemistry strongly influencing their biological performance. Smaller nanoparticles (1–100 nm) can penetrate cells more easily, while different shapes such as spheres, rods, cubes, triangles, wires, and stars impact their antimicrobial activity and drug delivery efficiency. This review highlights the importance of precise control over these properties during synthesis to optimize their therapeutic potential. Green synthesis methods, including plant-based and microbial approaches, are presented as safer, more cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional chemical processes. The review also discusses surface functionalization strategies such …

A Systematic Review Of The Use Of Electronic Nose And Tongue Technologies For Detecting Food Contaminants, Muhammad Zia Ul Haq, Baljit Singh, Xolile Fuku, Ahmed Barhoum, Furong Tian

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Sensor operations in the food industry are faced with several major challenges, including in sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy and rapid detection. Among emerging technologies, e-nose and e-tongue systems have attracted much attention from researchers. This review examines 112 studies published from 2004 to 2025, and examines the functionalities and performance in detecting various food product-associated analytes. The sensitivity of e-nose and e-tongue systems was analyzed using various data processing techniques. Recent research and development in leading countries (i.e., China, United Kingdom, Columbia, India, Portugal, Spain, Hungary, Ireland) was examined. The findings indicate that principal component analysis (PCA) was the most widely …

Thomas F. Lambert, Jr. Papers (Ms106), 1935-2000: A Finding Aid, Suffolk University Archives And Special Collections

Suffolk University Archives and Special Collections: Finding Aids and Research Guides

The papers of Thomas F. Lambert Jr., torts scholar and Suffolk University Law Professor, are a compilation of materials that document different aspects of Lambert’s life and career. The first set of materials highlight his studies at Oxford in the 1930s, including diaries and photographs of his life in England and travels around Europe. While traveling in Germany, he was witness to parades and public events held by the Nazi Party, including the visit of Italian leader Benito Mussolini. From Lambert’s time as a prosecutor in the Nuremberg trials, there are a few photographs and documents from the 1946 trial …

High Neuraxial Blockade In A Parturient After Epidural Placement: A Quality Improvement Simulation., Samir Patel, Noah D Le, John Carter, Nick Melott, Andrew Kalnow, Camille D Hawkins, Alexander Luong, Matthias Franzen

Medical Education Articles

Background Epidural anesthesia is a commonly used procedure in obstetrics for managing labor pain, with a potential complication of high neuraxial blockade. Proficiency in performing epidural or spinal anesthesia and promptly recognizing and managing high neuraxial blockade are critical components of anesthesiology residency training. Methods A simulated case was designed involving a 21-year-old female in labor receiving epidural anesthesia. After the administration of local anesthetic, she develops symptoms of nausea, hypotension, and respiratory distress, progressing to high neuraxial blockade. The simulation environment included a labor and delivery suite setup, an epidural cart, airway supplies, a Laerdal SimMan 3G PLUS mannequin …

Treatment Of Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma: A Case Of Successful Management With Targeted Therapies., Sydney Pence, Kellie Rath, Aine Clements

Women’s Health Articles

No abstract provided.

Smartphone Authentication Based On 3d Touch Sensor And Finger Locations On Touchscreens Via Decision-Making Techniques, Moceheb Lazam Shuwandy, Rawan Adel Fawzi Alsharida, Maytham M. Hammood

Mesopotamian Journal of CyberSecurity

Smartphone authentication systems must balance security and user convenience, which is a persistent challenge in the digital realm. Traditional biometrics, such as fingerprints and facial recognition, face vulnerabilities to spoofing and environmental conditions, limiting reliability. This study introduces a novel approach by integrating three-dimensional (3D) touch sensors with finger location data for authentication. The goal is to develop a system that improves accuracy while minimizing false positives and negatives, leveraging touch pressure and spatial interaction as unique biometric identifiers. Data from 20 participants, including pressure levels, spatial coordinates, and timestamps, were analysed using Random Forest (RF) and Extreme Gradient Boosting …

Who Speaks For The State?, Robert Young, Kristina Daugirdas, Diem Ho, Duncan Pickard, Larry D. Johnson

Articles

Who speaks for the state is a critical question in international relations. Statements by government representatives have normative force—capable of binding the state in numerous ways, from norm formation to staking out a litigation position. Governments choose their representatives carefully, and typically vet positions and even statements in advance. Indeed, the stability of international relations hinges on the assumption that state representatives act with governmental authority. The stakes of disputes over who speaks for the state are thus high.

Several such contestations have emerged in recent years, in a variety of international fora. At the United Nations General Assembly, the …

Between Belief Belonging: Filipino Atheists’ Lived Experiences Of Cultural Negotiation, Prince Kennex R. Aldama

Journal Article

This study explores the lived experiences of Filipino atheists and how they negotiate traditional Filipino values in a predominantly religious society. Using a phenomenological thematic analysis, it draws on in-depth semi-structured interviews with seven self-identified Filipino atheists. The study examines how participants interpret and navigate values such as pakikisama (smooth interpersonal relations), utang na loob (debt of gratitude), hiya (propriety or shame), and kapwa (shared identity). Findings show that Filipino atheists do not reject these values outright but reinterpret them through secular moral frameworks grounded in empathy, responsibility, and relational care. Participants maintain social belonging through selective disclosure, pragmatic accommodation, …

Etl/Elt Pipeline – Dataflow, Huzaifa Bin Tariq, Sameed Khatri, Hazim Ghulam Farooq, Ammar Lokhandwala, Kunal Kumar

BSCS Final Year Projects

Today’s organizations deal with huge amounts of data every day, and they need efficient systems to move, clean, and organize that data for analysis. But in many cases, the data pipelines in place are rigid and overloaded with manual coding and scripting. This not only makes the process slow and tedious but also leaves room for inefficiencies and delays. Our project introduces a Hybrid ETL/ELT Data Processing Pipeline that provides manual control with intelligent recommendations. The system analyzes metadata such as data size, structure, and transformation complexity to recommend the best strategy (ETL or ELT), while users retain full control …

Digital-Only Banks – Retail Banks For Retail Customers Only?, Katarzyna Schmidt-Jessa, Maciej Stradomski

Journal of Banking and Financial Economics

This paper explores how traditional banks perceive digital-only banks and the potential impact of digital-only banks on the retail segment of the banking sector. To obtain the main goal, we conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with managers and directors representing different traditional banks with profound insight into the bank digitalisation process. The results indicate that, for traditional banks, the development of digital-only banks does not pose a threat or challenge that can significantly undermine their business. A high level of user experience, innovativeness, and lack of obsolete processes and technologies are the main advantages of digital-only banks that attract retail customers. …

Is Knowledge Really Power And Ignorance Bliss? A Study Of Financial And Pension Ignorance, Agata Olechnowicz-Szewczyk, Elżbieta Babula

Journal of Banking and Financial Economics

In this study, we examine the impact of financial and pension ignorance (information avoidance) on the decisionmaking process for long-term savings. We define the concept of pension ignorance, as active avoidance of retirement information, failure to make decisions regarding retirement savings, and a lack of strategic retirement planning. To assess financial ignorance, we utilized the scale developed by Barrafrem et al. (2024), while pension ignorance was evaluated using the scale designed by the authors. The study was conducted with a sample of 1,200 Polish residents aged 18 to 65, using the Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) method. The findings reveal that …

The Right Of Big Tech Companies To Issue Money In The Opinion Of Consumers From France And Germany, Robert Huterski

Journal of Banking and Financial Economics

With a vast customer base and the acquisition of information about their customers and their preferences in connection with their services, Big Tech companies are also becoming essential players in the financial sphere. Payment solutions offered by Big Tech companies, such as Google Pay or Alipay, familiarise consumers with the presence of such companies in the monetary sphere. The issuance of private money has the most excellent chance in a form regulated by public authorities and with a value stabilized to the national currency, regardless of whether it would be similar to narrow banking, synthetic CBDC or another, related form. …

Personal Characteristics And Retirement Intentions (Empirical Evidence From Poland), Patrycja Kowalczyk-Rólczyńska, Madgalena Swacha-Lech, Łukasz Jurek

Journal of Banking and Financial Economics

Retirement intentions depend on a number of different factors. The aim of this paper is to assess the impact of personal characteristics on the willingness to retire as soon as possible among older workers in Poland. The data were collected through a CAWI survey conducted in 2021 among a representative sample of workers aged 50 and over. Statistical analysis was based on logit model. Identified predictors are: age, education, fear about the financial situation in retirement, the use of free time after retirement, and lack time to pursue passions due to work. Those results provide suggestions for strengthening active ageing …

Entire Volume Journal Of Banking And Financial Economics 2025, 2(24)

Journal of Banking and Financial Economics

Entire Volume Journal of Banking and Financial Economics 2025, 2(24)