Digital Commons Network^™

Disc Qualified Assets— Obligations Issued, Guaranteed Or Insured By Eximbank Or Fcia, William P. Streng

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.

Some Practical Applications Of The New Disc Provisions, Walter A. Slowinski

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.

Protocols For Antioxidant Testing: A Mini Review Of Common Assays And Approaches, Abdulsalam Halboup, Sameer A. Alkubati

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Antioxidants play a pivotal role in mitigating damage caused by oxidative stress, which is implicated in aging, inflammation, neurodegeneration, and various chronic diseases. With the growing interest in natural and synthetic antioxidants across nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and food industries, the need for reliable, reproducible, and standardized testing methods has become increasingly urgent. This mini-review provides a structured overview of the most widely used antioxidant testing protocols, categorized into in vitro chemical-based assays (e.g., DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, metal chelation), cell-based assays (e.g., DCFH-DA for intracellular ROS detection), and in vivo biomarker-based models. Each method’s principle, experimental protocol, advantages, and limitations are critically …

Prevalence Of Giardia Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study In Basra Province, Iraq, Sarah Kamal Naser

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Giardiasis is a common parasite infection that is seen more frequently than any other parasitic infection worldwide. This infection is especially prevalent in tropical areas and in developing nations that have a poor standard of living and poor health conditions. The Giardia parasite is able to infect people of any gender, as it enters the body by the mouth, passes down the oesophagus, and finally reaches the stomach, where it is not negatively impacted by gastric acids. The goal of this study is to determine the extent to which patients who were treated at Al-Zubair General Hospital in Basra, Iraq, …

Application Of Adversarial Volumetric Cnns To 3d Face Generation Using Latent Space Gaussian Embeddings, Ali Raad Abdulkareem, Marwa Jabberi, Islem Jarraya, Tarek M. Hamdani, Khmaies Ouahada, Adel M. Alimi

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Although 3D face generation is extensively studied in computer vision, most existing methods prioritize reconstructing 3D geometry from available 2D or 3D inputs rather than generating novel faces directly from latent representations. To bridge this gap, we present the application of Adversarial Volumetric Convolutional Neural Networks (AVCNN), a tailored adaptation of the vanilla 3D Generative Adversarial Network (3D-GAN), to 3D face generation using latent space Gaussian embeddings. We first assemble a custom 3D facial dataset to provide the requisite facial characteristics and to ensure sufficient coverage of geometric variation across identities. The generator, implemented as a decoder, maps latent space …

Durability Of Alkali-Activated Concretes Under 5% Sulfuric Acid Environment, Celal Karabaş, Anıl Niş

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The investigation focused on the resistance to 5% sulfuric acid degradation of the alkali-activated concretes (AAC). The AAC was manufactured using a blended binder of 50% slag and 50% F-type fly ash. The AAC was activated using a blend of 14 M sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate, with a hydroxide-to-silicate ratio of 1/2,5. Six AAC were produced against a 5% sulfuric acid environment, varying the binder amounts (400–500–600 kg/m3) and activator-binder (A/B) ratios (0,45–0,55). The chemical resistance of AAC was evaluated by visual appearance, variation in weight and compressive strengths. The findings pointed out that more gypsum and higher weight …

Comprehensive Risk Assessment For Construction Site Managers In Kosovo: A Mixed-Method Approach, Muhamet Ahmeti, Besian Sinani

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

This study developed and validated a hybrid ISO 31000:2018 Kosovo-compliant risk assessment framework tailored for construction site managers operating within transitional economies. The research employed audits of 20 ISO-certified contractors in Pristina, Kosovo, along with field observations, interviews, and quantitative risk matrices. The findings indicate a critical concentration of risk, with 70% of firms classified as "High" or “Very High” risk. The most prevalent hazards identified were working at height without collective protection, unprotected electrical systems, and manual handling of heavy materials. Regression analysis revealed that firms with a designated safety champion achieved significantly lower risk scores, whereas those with …

Behaviour Of Internally Strengthening Hollow Stainless-Steel Hot-Rolled Circular Columns Filled With Crumb Rubber And Recycled Aggregate Concrete, Wadhah M. Tawfeeq, Mohammed M. Rasheed, Mithaq Kohees, Ahmed W. Al Zandd, Saif Al-Balushi, Hamed Al Abdul Salam

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Stainless-steel sections are increasingly being utilised in favour of their higher durability. Simultaneously, the use of recycled materials in concrete is aligned with the global concern to encourage sustainable and environmentally friendly construction. The paper examined the behaviour of stainless-steel columns filled with concrete with crumb rubber (CR) and recycled aggregate (RA). It analysed the effect of different percentages of CR (0, 15, and 30) and RA (0, 15, and 50) on the compressive strength of the concrete and the performance of the columns using stainless-steel hollow sections. 20 specimens were manufactured, 18 of which were cast with concrete containing …

Retracted: Fuzzy Backstepping Approach To Stabilizing Fuzzy Parabolic Partial Differential Equations, Zainab John, Fadhel S. Fadhel, Samsul Ariffin Abdul Karim, Teh Yuan Ying

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

In this work,\floatquery[-14pc]AU: Please provide ORCID ID for remaining authors. we study the solvability and stability of the fuzzy reaction-diffusion equation and the fuzzy diffusion equation with nonhomogeneous boundary conditions. Firstly, we derive the fuzzy exact solutions by converting the nonhomogeneous boundary condition to a homogeneous condition, then we prove the instability of the solution by using simulation approach with the help of Maple program. From this, we have decided to implement the fuzzy backstepping approach to developed the stabilization of the fuzzy parabolic partial differential equations. By using this approach together with the generalized Hukuhara (gH) derivative, we were …

Piezoelectric Concrete: A Smart Material Approach For Energy-Harvesting Structural Technologies, Dianah Mazlan, Vynotdni Rathinasamy, Naveen Kumar, Liu Chunpeng, Elango Elango

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The rapid growth of urban infrastructure demands innovative materials that not only support structural performance but also contribute to sustainability through energy harvesting. Piezoelectric concrete, which integrates ceramics, polymers, nanomaterials, and bio-based fillers into cementitious matrices, has emerged as a promising solution. This review systematically explores the fundamentals of piezoelectricity in concrete, highlighting how stress-induced electromechanical coupling enables both energy harvesting and structural health monitoring. The paper critically evaluates major material systems including PZT ceramics, PVDF polymers, hybrid nanocomposites, and emerging bio-based materials, alongside their integration strategies such as embedded and surface-mounted approaches. Applications across pavements, bridges, and smart buildings …

Midlife, Michael Sevcik

Poetry MFA Theses

Abstract

Midlife by Michael James Sevcik is a collection of poetry that explores issues of age, gender, sexuality, identity, desire, family, and loss within a predominantly domestic space while addressing broader social, cultural, and philosophical issues using a phenomenological poetics grounded in everyday experience. The collection is organized into three distinct yet interrelated “movements:” the first movement, “Anchored,” establishes an existential yearning amidst professional and amorous stasis and familial pressures. The second movement, “Liminal,” explores temporality and its relationship to place and memory. The third movement, “Renewal,” incorporates travel, family history, and art, transforming them into critical modes of aesthetic …

Impact Of Small Group Reading Instruction On Student’S Academic Achievement, Celeste M. Cote

Graduate Teacher Education

Abstract

This paper reviews the effects and benefits of small group reading instruction on students’ academic achievement, a topic of increasing importance due to the growing achievement gap. Fifteen studies, including quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, and meta-analyses, were examined. The review identified key themes, including the benefits of small group reading instruction, instructional strategies used to implement it with a focus on scaffolding, and the equity and access it provides. The findings indicate that small group reading instruction has a greater impact on student success compared to whole-class instruction. It has been shown to foster collaboration, critical thinking skills, and improved …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Academic Achievement, Leah A. Brehmer

Graduate Teacher Education

The paper examines the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on student success. Through the literature review, three themes emerge: the first is the impact of ACEs on learning, the second is the usage of trauma-informed practices, and the third is how resilience plays a role in student success. Awareness regarding how ACEs impact students and academics, changes can be made to prioritize the student and their success in schools. The review incorporates statistics from studies primarily conducted in the United States, supplemented by a few international studies that support the research findings. Nearly half of the students in the …

Impact Of Small Group Literacy Instruction For English Language Learners, Olivia R. Freehauf Kirchoffner

Graduate Teacher Education

This literature review examined the impacts of small group literacy instruction for English Language Learners (ELL). ELL students often face challenges in developing literacy skills due to language barriers and limited exposure to English, making targeted instructional strategies crucial for academic success. Peer-reviewed studies published between 2008 and 2024 were analyzed to identify trends in effective literacy practices. Studies were selected from academic databases based on relevance, publication date, and focus on elementary-level ELL students. The review included quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies, focusing on learning approaches, instructional strategies, and outcomes of small group instruction. Findings indicate that structured routines, …

Pediatric Anesthesia And Virtual Reality: Managing Perioperative Pain And Anxiety– A Scoping Review, Moneer Sharafi, Mason Pham, Alec Wiscombe

Doctoral Projects

Pediatric surgery is common, but it often causes considerable anxiety and pain. A staggering percentage of children experience preoperative anxiety, which can heighten pain, delay recovery, and contribute to complications such as emergence delirium and longer-term behavioral issues (Fortier & Kain, 2015). Virtual reality (VR), which immerses users in computer-generated environments, has been proposed as a distraction technique to reduce these challenges. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project conducted a scoping review to examine the effectiveness of VR in reducing perioperative pain and anxiety in pediatric patients. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses …

A Program Evaluation Of Universal Screening For Depression In The Primary Care Setting, Samantha W. Burns

Doctoral Projects

Depression is a chronic condition affecting millions of Americans annually and is often associated with poor clinical outcomes, multiple co-morbidities, a negative economic impact, and an increased mortality rate. Many primary care settings have implemented universal depression screening programs following the recommendations of governing healthcare entities such as the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Due to positive benefit, universal depression screenings have now been included as a quality measure in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) to increase organizational reimbursement. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a widely used screening …

The Role Of Multimodal Analgesia In Spine Surgery: A Scoping Review Of Its Impact On Opioid Consumption And Surgical Outcomes, Madison Milam, Kristie Mullins, Tatum Trent

Doctoral Projects

The ongoing opioid epidemic emphasizes the need for alternative perioperative pain management strategies, particularly in high-risk surgical populations such as spine surgery patients. This project proposes a scoping review to examine the role of multimodal analgesia (MMA) in reducing opioid consumption and improving surgical outcomes in adult neurosurgical patients. MMA analgesia involves the use of multiple pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches that target different pain pathways in the human body, aiming to enhance patient comfort while minimizing reliance on opioids.

This review synthesizes current literature on MMA strategies used in spinal surgeries, evaluates reported outcomes such as pain control, postoperative complications, …

The Hidden World Of Evil: Documenting Serial Killers Through The Centuries, An Evolution., Semieca Wilson

Master of Arts in Human Services

The following is an analysis of the phenomenon of serial killers from their development over time, and why it mattered due to how they operated on society. Cases reported from the past to present century were read and analyzed in search of recurring psychological patterns, changes in methods of inspecting cases and the effects of cultural, technological transformation on both felons as well as those who trailed them. The site is a product of my professional interest in the area of criminal psychology and forensic analysis and reflects my objective to provide myself and other interested professionals, academics, law enforcement …

Behind The Badge: Effects Of Stress And Trauma In Policing -- Understanding The Importance Of Evidence-Based Prevention, Early Intervention, And Wellness Programs, Jessica Rolshouse

Master of Arts in Human Services

Law enforcement officers are exposed to occupational stress and trauma routinely and at rates that far exceed the general population. This chronic exposure places them at risk for physical and psychological injury and negative outcomes to include mental health disorders including burnout, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Prolonged exposure to occupational stress and trauma also increases the risk of suicidal ideation and dying by suicide, the most tragic outcome of the stress law enforcement officers face. This literature review focuses on individual risk factors, occupational stress, and trauma, and the development of mental health disorders in law enforcement officers. It also …

The Sexual Assault And Violence Experiences Questionnaire: Community-Developed Items For Gathering Sexual Violence Histories With Displaced Women, Meredith A. Blackwell

Psychology ETDs

Improving measurement of sexual violence has contributed to major policy changes in the United States. However, research on sexual violence largely overlooks those exposed to conflict and displacement: a population especially at risk. Assessment measures often ignore contextual features and use phrasing that is vulnerable to underreporting. This community-based participatory research project collaborated with cultural experts from Mexico/Central America and Afghanistan to develop a preliminary item list for a self-report measure of prior sexual violence. Analysis of focus group data from 30 women revealed a range of sexual violence experiences, and provided critical phrasing used to form an item list …

Investigating Teacher Perceptions Of Strategies That Led To Success Of Long-Term English Learners Passing English Assessment Exams, Whitney Hodges

Ed.D. Dissertations

Long term English learners are those who have been enrolled in United States public schools for at least five to seven years yet have not exited language services via passing scores on language assessments. Those students have less opportunity to take preferred elective courses in middle and high school, and less opportunity to take higher level course work. This impacted the students, teachers, and instructional leaders when it came to scheduling, fulfilling graduation requirements, and meeting schoolwide and statewide growth and achievement goals. Previous researchers provided strategies for helping newcomers learn a language, and move from basic interpersonal communication skills …

Nurses' Comfort Toward Caring For The Dying: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study, Candies Warren

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional descriptive research study was to explore nurses’ comfort levels toward caring for dying patients and what factors influence the bedside nurses’ comfort levels in providing end-of-life care in an acute care hospital setting. A convenience sample (N=63) of RNs voluntarily participated in an online survey from January 2025 to March 2025 that provided direct patient care. Data was collected through Question Pro. Data collected included sociodemographic questions, questions about current comfort level, factors that influence nurses’ comfort level, and selected items from the Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying Patient (FATCOD) scale. Institutional …

From Evidence To Action: A Rapid Review To Support Acute Care Ot Guidelines For Heart Failure Self-Care, Alan K. Cook, Ms, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Heart failure (HF) significantly affects individuals’ ability to perform daily activities and sustain quality of life, with disproportionate impact on older adults and marginalized populations due to structural inequities embedded in Social Determinants of Health (SDoH). Although self-care is central to HF management, occupational therapy (OT) remains underrepresented in acute care HF intervention research and clinical guidelines. This doctoral capstone project conducted a rapid review, following Cochrane Rapid Review methodology, to inform the development of preliminary Acute Care Occupational Therapy Clinical Practice Guidelines for Heart Failure Self-Care and Health Management. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL, and Scopus, developed …

Fedchae: Federated Learning With Client Clustering And Hybrid Adaptive Engagement, Chaeeun Park

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

As machine learning adoption expands, data privacy concerns have grown significantly. Federated Learning (FL) addresses this challenge by allowing clients to train locally and share only their model parameters with the server. However, conventional FL methods such as FedAvg suffer from high communication overhead, as all clients must participate in every global round.

This paper proposes FedChae (Federated Learning with Client Clustering and Hybrid Adaptive Engagement) to balance communication efficiency and model accuracy. FedChae alternates between Grouping Rounds, where all clients perform clustering, and Conventional Rounds, where one client per cluster updates the model.

Simulations with 100 clients using Multi-class …

How To Talk To A Seahorse: Communication In Transmasculine Gestational Experiences As Told Through Narrative, Emerson Armstrong

Communication ETDs

Transmasculine experiences before, during, and after pregnancy were evaluated using focus groups and autoethnographic research. As transgender people are more likely to experience inequality in healthcare encounters, this project aims to shed light on, and counter sensationalized accounts of male pregnancy, as transmasculine gestational individuals sought normalization in their experiences of pregnancy. Seven focus groups consisted of 90 minute sessions, with a total of 15 participants. Transcripts were analyzed using a trans narrative approach to find a greater understanding about identity construction, challenges, and changes around trans pregnancy. Asking about communities and healthcare experiences worked to create a complete picture …

2025 Fall - Commencement Program, Office Of The Registrar, East Tennessee State University

ETSU Commencement Ceremonies and Programs

No abstract provided.

Sue Gunter And The Battle For Equity In Women’S Athletics At Sfa, Derek S. Allen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

From the 1950’s through the 2000’s, women’s college basketball would move from a category of inappropriate activity to selling out large arenas and being broadcast to millions of viewers on national TV. Such a result came largely from federally mandated stipulation contained within Title IX, accelerated a fight for equity and acceptance, and advanced the cause for women’s athletics more than any other initiative. However, that alone would have failed to grow the popularity of a sport such as women’s basketball if it did not produce a quality product for fans. Beyond the need for resources comparable to men’s athletics, …

The Incorporation Of Salivary Diagnostic Testing In Dental Hygiene Program Curriculum; A Pilot Study Using A Self-Reported Questionnaire, Carrie B. Palmer-Hawkins

Dental Hygiene ETDs

This study evaluated the incorporation of salivary diagnostic testing in dental hygiene program curricula. A recruitment email and survey link were sent to a convenience sample of 296 CODA-accredited program directors in the United States. Using a descriptive research approach, the survey gathered quantitative and qualitative data exploring directors’ perspectives on the role of salivary testing in dental hygiene education. Thirty-seven responses were gathered over three weeks, and 34 participants were included in the study, resulting in a response rate of 13%. Thirty-eight percent (n=13) reported incorporating salivary testing into their dental hygiene program curriculum through didactic or clinical coursework. …

A Mixed Methods Exploration Of Autistic Adults' Leisure Experiences, Sevia Raelson, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Introduction: Across ages and populations, leisure participation is essential to humans and associated with improved well-being, and both mental and physical health (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2017; Coster & Khetani, 2008; Lapa, 2013). The American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA] formally defines leisure as intrinsically motivating, non-obligatory, self-chosen, and enjoyable activities done in one’s free time (AOTA, 2020). Leisure participation trends for autistic populations are better understood in pediatric populations than adults, but studies rely on neurotypically defined leisure activities. Given the differences between neurotypical and neurodivergent brains, it is likely that leisure activities are experienced differently by autistic adults; thus, …

Assistive Technology Transitions From School To Adult Life For Students With Intellectual Disability: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Madeleine Clements, Ms, Otr/L, Atp

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Introduction
In the United States, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act mandates that schools consider assistive technology (AT) during transition planning for students with intellectual disability (ID) as they move from school to adult life (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2004). AT can improve outcomes for adults with ID across multiple areas, including vocational, daily living, and communication (Johnson et al., 2023; Morash-Macneil et al., 2018). However, AT is often underutilized by adults with ID (Boot et al., 2017; Alshamrani et al., 2025). The Quality Indicators Assistive Technology (QIAT)-Transition framework provides best practice guidelines, in the form of six quality …