Digital Commons Network^™

Combined Efficacy Of Topical Depigmentation Serum And Uv Protection In Facial Hyperpigmentation: A Comprehensive Review, Jigar Darji Mr, Shruti Patel Ms, Vrushali Kansara Ms, Hiren Shukla Mr

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: Facial hyperpigmentation, encompassing melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), and solar lentigines, is common and psychosocially impactful; depigmenting agents may be less effective without concurrent photoprotection, so this review evaluates the synergistic potential of combining depigmentation serums with UV protection. Methods: A comprehensive PubMed review assessed mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and safety of hydroquinone, α‑arbutin, vitamin C, niacinamide, and piperine when paired with broad‑spectrum photoprotection, analyzing clinical trials and comparative studies on combination regimens. Results: Combining depigmenting agents with UV protection improves outcomes, with multi‑ingredient serums showing efficacy comparable to 4% hydroquinone but better tolerance, plus measurable gains in melanin/erythema indices, hydration, …

Comparison Of Transversus Abdominis Plane Block Versus Intrathecal Clonidine In Lower Segment Caesarean Section - A Prospective Observational Study, Christy Maria Paul, Dr Somsundar R G Associate Professor, Dr Archana B N Assistant Professor, Dr. Shivakumar G Pofessor And Hod

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Comparison of Transversus Abdominis Plane Block versus Intrathecal Clonidine in Lower Segment Caesarean Section - A Prospective Observational Study

Background and Objective: In the majority of abdominal procedures, transverse abdominis plane block, one of the fascial plane blocks, has been used extensively to treat post-operative pain. Ultrasound has gained popularity in the management of cesarean patients due to its ease of use and reduced adverse effects.To assess the effectiveness of ultrasound guided transverse abdominus plane block with intrathecal clonidine for post surgical pain control in lower segment cesarean patients.

Material and Methods: This prospective observational study was done in …

Design Of Fast Start-Up High-Q Oscillator For Wireless Sensor Nodes Transceiver Frequency Reference, Abdolraouf Rahmani

Student Works (2020-2029)

With the prevalence of wireless sensor networks and the Internet of Things (IoT), optimizing power in battery-powered wireless nodes is crucial due to the inconvenience and cost of replacing batteries in remote areas. Synchronized power modulation between "Sleep" and "Active" states, known as burst mode activation, allows nodes to conserve power. However, frequent transitions between these states consume significant energy, highlighting the need to reduce the start-up time of the slowest component, the high-Q crystal oscillator. Additionally, to ensure improved synchronization within the network and a cost-effective IoT device manufacturing, the device should be produced with low start-up time variations …

Bright And Dark Pulsed Fiber Lasers Based On Multimode Interference, Yu Chen

Student Works (2020-2029)

Pulsed lasers, particularly ultrashort pulsed lasers, find widespread application across various fields including telecommunications, bio-imaging, spectroscopy, atmospheric measurements, surgery, and material processing. This study focuses on harnessing the potential of the single mode-multimode-single mode (SMS) structure as a robust avenue for developing simple, compact, and cost-effective bright and dark pulsed erbium-doped fiber lasers (EDFLs). The SMS configuration serves as an ingenious artificial saturable absorber (SA), facilitating the generation of ultrashort pulsed lasers through the Kerr Effect with nonlinear multimode interference. By precisely fusion-splicing single mode fibers to both ends of a designated length of multimode fiber, the SMS architecture is …

Capacity Building In Research Data Management Services: A Case Of Malaysian Research-Intensive Universities, Mohd Ikhwan Ismail

Student Works (2020-2029)

The increasing volume of research data has led to the emergence of research data management (RDM). Researchers generate substantial amounts of data that require efficient management throughout various stages of the research lifecycle. Dissemination and sharing of research data are key components of open science and RDM, driven by the requirements of funders, publishers, and institutions. Consequently, libraries have become vital in supporting researchers and adapting to the rapid growth of research data. The academic librarians providing RDM services need the capacity to fulfil roles and responsibilities for the research community. In the Malaysian context, RDM is still in its …

Identity-Based Autonomy And Its Impact On Connections With Identity-Linked Products And Brands, Keri L. Kettle, Carter Morgan, Americus Reed Ii

School of Marketing and Innovation Faculty Publications

We introduce a new characteristic of identity into the identity-based consumer behavior literature called identity-based autonomy: the autonomy (i.e., freedom from others' influence) versus heteronomy (i.e., real or perceived external influence) that people feel when enacting an identity. This new dimension thus captures how consumers enact a salient identity in an identity-relevant context. We create a new measure of identity-based autonomy to capture how this dimension varies across identities. We show that autonomous identities foster a greater sense of control over when, where, and how one uses identity-linked products. As a result, we demonstrate that people feel stronger connections …

The British Museum's Deceit In The Parthenon Marbles Controversy, Hannah M. Bartfield, Morgan E. Spencer, David Rudenstine

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

The article challenges the British claim of legal ownership over the Parthenon sculptures, arguing that the documents cited by the British government and the British Museum to justify the removal of the marbles are flawed and intentionally misleading. Through a detailed analysis of the Italian and English documents, the article demonstrates that the British narrative of lawful removal lacks credibility, as the documents contain significant discrepancies and mistranslations that undermine their validity. The evidence presented, including scholarly critiques, conclusively discredits the British claim, emphasizing the need for accountability and the return of the marbles to Greece.

The Relationship Between Food Insecurity And Low Birthweight Across Us Counties And Related Racial Disparities, Marissa A. Beldon, Shondra L. Clay, M. Courtney Hughes, Kathryn Mazurek

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Objective

To explore the relationship between low birthweight (LBW) and food insecurity across US counties and determine whether this relationship differs between Black and White women.

Methods

LBW data was derived from the 2013–2019 National Center for Health Statistics and National Vital Statistics System Birth Files. Food insecurity data was derived from Feeding America’s 2013–2019 Map the Meal Gap project. Analyses included descriptive statistics and regression models.

Results

Data were available for 3037 US counties. Food insecurity significantly predicted county-level LBW (t(3035) = 44.48, P <  .001) and explained 39.46% of the variance in LBW (F(13,035) = 1978.03, P <  .001, R = .63). Food insecurity predicted LBW for …

Gamified Mhealth System For Evaluating Upper Limb Motor Performance In Children: Cross-Sectional Feasibility Study, Md Raihan Mia, Sheikh Iqbal Ahamed, Samuel Nemanich

Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Approximately 17% of children in the United States have been diagnosed with a developmental or neurological disorder that affects upper limb (UL) movements needed for completing activities of daily living. Gold-standard laboratory assessments of the UL are objective and precise but may not be portable, while clinical assessments can be time-intensive. We developed MoEvGame, a mobile health (mHealth) gamification software system for the iPad, as a potential advanced technology to assess UL motor functions.

Objective: This feasibility study examines whether MoEvGame can assess children’s whole-limb movement, fine motor skills, manual dexterity, and bimanual coordination. The specific aims were to …

Application Of Machine Learning To Predict Ultrasound Wave Propagation In Biphasic Fluid–Solid Media, Jahnavi Dandamudi

Theses

The objective of this thesis is to investigate the application of Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to predict ultrasound wave propagation in the cartilage tissue of the knee joint. The learning data necessary for the ML algorithm has been generated through finite-element method (FEM)-based simulations for solving the Biot theory equations governing the propagation of continuous ultrasound through the cartilage. Specifically, we computed the ultrasound-induced dilatations and displacements in the microscale cartilage that is represented as consisting of four zones, namely the chondrocyte cell and its nucleus, the pericellular matrix (PCM) that forms a layer around the chondrocyte, and the extracellular …

2025-2026 Schaefer Workshop Speakers, William & Mary Law School

Elmer J. Schaefer Workshop Series

No abstract provided.

Theatre As Sanctuary: Queer Identity, Religious Trauma, And The Path To Healing, Casey Worley

Theses and Dissertations

Growing up as a queer individual in a deeply religious Southern Baptist community, I learned early that faith and identity could feel like irreconcilable forces. I sat in the pews, surrounded by voices that preached love but often excluded people like me. For years, I struggled with the question: Can I be both queer and faithful? This tension—between belief and belonging, between the church I was raised in and the identity I could no longer deny—became the foundation of my journey, my artistic practice, and this thesis.

Through this research, I explore the intersections of queer identity, religious trauma, and …

From Ink To Code, From Binary To Boundless Reality—Until All Returns To Emptiness, Weitong Sun

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the entangled relationship between language, memory, and technology through the lens of immigrant experience. Moving from programming to visual storytelling, I investigate how dyslexia, bilingualism, and cultural displacement have shaped my ways of reading, writing, and coding.

Beginning with personal reflections on switching from computer science to art, I trace how code offered a form of clarity and expression where written language had once failed me. Yet as I ventured into real-time simulation and XR storytelling, I encountered new forms of mistranslation—where narratives dissolved, mutated, or resisted coherence altogether.

Through a series of experiments in code-driven art, …

The Cut Worm Forgives The Plow, August Neuscheler

Theses and Dissertations

The explorations in this thesis writing are centered on William Blake’s proverb “The cut worm forgives the plow.” It has been reinterpreted as an allegory of history and energy. A theory of their relation is proposed based on forgiveness, a theory that accepts the palimpsest of orders as evidence for the abundance of the present moment. The writing focuses on questions of proportionality, scale, archaeological screening methods, planar cutting, and a critique of entropy as grounds for this theory. Some of its subjects include the Statue of Liberty, Kate Raworth’s donut economic model, sashimi, triangulation, Joseph Beuys’ “7,000 Eichen,” semiconductors, …

A Parting Repast, Debra D. Dowden-Crockett

Theses and Dissertations

Both the thesis document and exhibition comprise the story of my journey through grief, examination of loss, contemplation of death, and transformation through acceptance and relinquishment. I conflate art and emotion to put form to the complex human experience of watching a loved one die, having to say a last goodbye, and the mourning that ultimately follows.

I examine the rituals surrounding death, the role of memory, and the symbolic presence of food as a shared experience of both mourning and nourishment, the intimate moments of mourning, and the gradual process of finding peace and closure.

Featuring works from a …

Vessels Of Spirituality: Merging Faith And Form, Maryam Al-Tajer

Theses and Dissertations

According to traditional Islamic teachings, natural materials like frankincense, black sesame seeds, and sidr (jujube) leaves are valuable both physically and spiritually. Historically, they have been used for healing and purification. Nowadays, influenced by contemporary science, people tend to overlook their metaphysical value, focusing on their medicinal uses. Similarly, Muslims assign spiritual qualities to the Muqatta’at, the disconnected letters that preface several surahs of the Holy Quran, believing them to contain sacred power. In both of these cases, the material leads to the spiritual.

Through material experimentation, informed by religious texts, my thesis combines revered materials with sacred letter forms …

Comparative Evaluation Of Three Endodontic Rotary File Systems In S-Shaped Root Canals: An In-Depth Analysis, Mudher Bahar

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: This study compares three endodontic file systems—XP‐3D Shaper⁺, EdgeFile X7 and WaveOne Gold in S‐shaped simulated canals in resin blocks. It aimed to quantify canals volumetric changes post‐instrumentation to guide clinical selection of a system that preserves tooth structure while efficiently shaping root canals.

Methods: Thirty S‐shaped canals in resin blocks were divided into three groups (n=10) for instrumentation with XP‐3D Shaper⁺, EdgeFile X7 or WaveOne Gold using the crown‐down technique and manufacturers recommended settings. A no‐treatment control provided a baseline for volumetric changes measured via CBCT scans analyzed with ITK‐SNAP. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey’s test …

Between "Hippies In Suits" And "Money Is The Name Of The Game": Farm Animal Advocates' Analyses Of Political Power In The Farm Bill, Jeff Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

The animal agriculture industry annually slaughters roughly ten billion land animals in the United States. What can be done to improve their welfare and lessen their suffering?

Over the past decade, the problem of farm animal welfare and suffering has drawn increasing interest from the effective altruism community, a loose movement of utilitarian advocates seeking technocratic solutions to social problems (Singer, 2015). As effective altruism has become a more potent driver of the animal welfare movement, an increasing number of nonprofits have begun engaging in political advocacy for farm animal welfare. Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz’ Open Philanthropy is the largest …

Dosimetric Validation Of An Electron Monte Carlo (Emc) Algorithm For Small Cutouts And Extended Ssd’S: Assessing Emc In Small Field Dosimetry, Anil Basavaaraju

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis validates the accuracy and limitations of Electron Monte Carlo (eMC) simulations in Eclipse treatment planning systems for small-field electron dosimetry and extended source-to-surface distances (SSDs). Systematic measurements were performed using a microDiamond detector across various electron energies and field sizes. The study examines the discrepancies between measured and calculated (eMC) dose distributions, validating challenges due to lateral scatter disequilibrium and extended air gaps. Our findings provide systematic data for eMC dose calculations and demonstrate that eMC performs within clinical tolerances, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the precision and safety of radiation treatments.

The Influence Of Gender Identity And Healthcare Delivery Experience On Hiv Screening, Delton Harris

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the roles of gender identity, healthcare experience, and practitioners' scope of healthcare services in the uptake of annual HIV screening among the understudied population of transgender individuals. Transgender individuals are about half as likely to have an annual HIV screening despite having similar risk profiles to men who have sex with men (MSM). The current HIV guidelines for MSM recommend annual HIV screening because of the risky sexual practice, anal sex with other men. Similar to MSM, transgender individuals who have anal sex with men are at higher risk than the general population for HIV acquisition because …

Assessment Of Drivers Of Light Attenuation In Virginia Reservoirs, Jackson Barnett

Theses and Dissertations

Water clarity in aquatic ecosystems is crucial for submerged vegetation and algal dynamics. We investigated the factors influencing light attenuation (kd) by measuring total suspended solids (TSS), chlorophyll-a (CHLa), and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) across thirteen stations located in seven reservoirs. Average kd was 1.69 m^-1 (range: 0.37-3.99 m^-1), with photic depths averaging 3.27 m (range: 1.15-12.43 m). TSS was the primary predictor of light attenuation (R² = 0.57, P = 0.003, SE = 0.053). Average TSS values for each site were multiplied by the slope of the kd-TSS relationship to find the proportion of kd …

Infinite Finite: A View On Human Progression Through Emergent Generative Systems, Fatima Abbas

Theses and Dissertations

Contemporary crises reveal an imbalance in human progression, prioritizing material advancement while neglecting ethical, compassionate, and spiritual dimensions. This thesis examines natural progression through the lens of emergence, where simple interactions produce complex outcomes. Analyzing natural patterns across different scales, from cosmic formations to neural interactions, underscores emergence's universal nature.

Within this context, Infinite Finite introduces a generative digital tool simulating emergence through iterative cycles of construction and deconstruction. Depicting a century of human progression informed by historical behaviors via simulated cellular interactions, the tool visually differentiates ethical from unethical progression. This is represented through ten data visualization tiles composed …

¡Bip Bip!, Diego Pablo Málaga Beckhart

Theses and Dissertations

¡Bip Bip! is a body of work that investigates the car as it exists in the American imagination, a metaphorical and physical object where culture, identity, and power intertwine. This work uses painting, printmaking, collage, video, and installation to explore the car as a space of expression, interiority, and understanding the world through a marginalized lens.

Central to my practice is my personal vehicle, Guadalupe, which functions as both muse and metaphor, the main driver of the framework within ¡Bip Bip! My practice examines the different but congruent contexts intersections of this iconic American symbol, the car. In my paintings, …

Subgingival Microbiomes Of Healthy And Periodontitis Subjects, Tareq Abdulrasoul

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Periodontitis is a common chronic inflammatory disease triggered by the dysbiosis of the subgingival microbiome. 16s rRNA sequencing has been used to profile the subgingival plaque samples in healthy and periodontitis subjects. Here, we have collected subgingival plaque samples from subjects and analyzed the microbiome profile from 16s rRNA sequencing. We hypothesized that periodontitis patients will have a different subgingival microbiome profile than that of healthy subjects.

Methods: Subgingival plaque samples were collected from periodontitis and healthy subjects who were indicated for periodontal surgeries (osseous resective and regenerative surgery for periodontitis patients or crown lengthening for healthy …

Beneath The Roots: Becoming Native Through Mangrove Teachings And Wisdom, Shima Aeinehdar

Theses and Dissertations

Beneath the Roots uses the wisdom of mangroves to investigate the naturalization of humans through science, spirituality, and storytelling. The seeds of Avicennia marina, the gray mangrove, drifted to Qatar at some point in history and took root, like so many other people here. The mangrove survives in a harsh saline environment through a unique salt excretion process. As a Qatar-born expat, I relate to this struggle to survive and nativize in a land that is both my own and foreign to me, in a cyclical conversation. I explore this nativization process through a ritual of salt extraction, creating botanical …

Crafting Futures: Balancing Tradition And Technology In Craft Practices, Saga Elkabbash

Theses and Dissertations

Under pressure from mass production and the decline of artisan skills, craft traditions risk becoming relics of the past. Crafting Futures challenges this by treating machines as tools of creative expression, working alongside and in harmony with traditional hand techniques. By pairing an experienced potter with a creatively deployed 3D-printer to develop a series of artifacts, this research fosters a dynamic conversation between partners. Digital fabrication can engage with, rather than replace, traditional making practices, emphasizing the role of the maker’s imagination as the site of knowledge, intuition, and improvisation. The resulting series of hybrid clay vessels reinforce not only …

Development Of A Mediation Model Of Pain Cognition In Adult Patients With Sickle Cell Disease, Daniel M. Sop

Theses and Dissertations

Pain is a hallmark of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), a genetic hemoglobinopathy characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia, vaso-occlusion, and organ damage. While acute vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) have been extensively studied, the mechanisms underlying chronic pain and its interplay with brain function remain unclear. This dissertation investigates the relationships between cerebral blood flow (CBF), fluid cognition, and pain sensitivity in adults with SCD, utilizing advanced imaging techniques and validated assessment tools.

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were employed to measure CBF and brain activity, respectively. Pain sensitivity was assessed using the Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ), and …

The Trauma-To-Prison Pipeline: A Multi-Level Theoretical Framework Exploring The Intersection Of Inequality, Trauma, And Exclusionary Discipline, Dana Ainsworth

Theses and Dissertations

The school-to-prison pipeline (STPP) is a widely recognized and extensively studied metaphor used to describe the process by which school discipline policies increase the risk of juvenile justice system involvement, particularly among historically marginalized populations. While it has been instrumental in shaping educational policy, the STPP framework has not evolved to account for the critical impact of trauma on learning and behavioral outcomes. Furthermore, it overlooks the role of systemic inequality that increases trauma exposure and produces concentric patterns of marginalization.

Drawing on research across the fields of education, public health, sociology, and criminal justice, this study proposes a theoretical …

Development, Synthesis And Characterization Of Advanced Low- Cobalt And High-Nickel Cathode Materials For Lithium-Ion Batteries, Arjun Patel

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the improvement of structural and electrochemical stability of active materials for lithium-ion batteries. It explores the modification strategies to mitigate the issues related to Ni-rich cathode materials, along with the continuous production of cathode precursors using a slug flow reactor to improve the quality of the product.

The First part of the dissertation examines the effect of substitution of cobalt with aluminum and iron on the electrochemical stability of Ni-rich lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM) materials. This study investigates how Al and Fe doping work and how they impact the performance and stability of these …

Immersive Medical Practice And Clinical Training: Virtual And Mixed Reality In Pharmacy And Orthopedic Surgery, Silas Semprini De Toledo Contaifer

Theses and Dissertations

Extended‑reality (XR) technologies including virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) offer new ways to improve training and surgical precision. This thesis evaluates their educational and clinical impact through two complementary studies.

Specific Aim 1 compared an immersive 360° video VR module with conventional training for teaching USP < 797> sterile‑compounding skills to second‑year PharmD students (N = 36). VR trainees raised their knowledge from 6.14 ± 1.55 to 8.69 ± 1.07, yet the overall post‑test advantage versus control was not statistically significant (U = 71.50, p = 0.21). Item‑level McNemar testing showed significant VR‑exclusive gains on three critical questions (K5, K6, …