Digital Commons Network^™

Signaura: An Ai-Based Real-Time Recognition System For Sri Lankan Sign Language, Pramudhi Hansi Wijesinghe, Nimesh Pollwaththage, Dhishan Dhammearatchi

Journal of Innovation in Science, Engineering and Technology

The communication barrier experienced by deaf and hard-of-hearing in Sri Lanka is still a serious issue in society since there are few interpreters with Sri Lankan Sign Language (SLSL) and no automated translation technologies. The present paper introduces SignAura, an artificial intelligence-driven real-time SLSL sign-recognition system that provides multilingual lexical text and synthesized speech. The system uses computer vision and a fully connected neural network to identify isolated SLSL signs from live video streams.A fully connected neural-network classifier was used instead of the CNN-LSTM architecture, with 21 hand landmark keypoints extracted per frame using MediaPipe and represented as 63 numerical …

Medical Device Vigilance In Sri Lanka: Identifying Gaps And Developing National Guidelines, Mjf Riyasha, Lm Hettihewa, S Shanmuganathan

Journal of Innovation in Science, Engineering and Technology

Background: Medical Device Vigilance (MDV) systems are essential for ensuring patient safety through post-market surveillance. In low- and middle-income countries such as Sri Lanka, MDV systems remain underdeveloped despite increasing reliance on advanced medical technologies.
Objectives: This study aimed to identify gaps in MDV practices in Sri Lanka and develop context-specific national guidelines aligned with international best practices.
Methods A pragmatic mixed-methods design was used. A desk review of international frameworks (WHO, IMDRF, EU MDR 2017/745, FDA) was conducted alongside a cross-sectional survey of key stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, biomedical engineers, device importers, and regulatory staff. Quantitative data were analyzed …

Design Of A Smart Esp32-Based Iot Prototype Using Azure Iot Hub For Automatic Detection, Neutralization, And Safe Disposal Of Acidic And Basic Chemical Waste In Laboratory Environments, M.J. Fernando, K.C.K.V. Samarathunga, G.A. Heshan, J.A.D.S.R. Jayasinghe, K.S.R Perera, K.G.C.M. Perera, K.D.T.D. Jayasuriya, S.M.H.M. Koswatta

Journal of Innovation in Science, Engineering and Technology

The generation of acidic and alkaline laboratory waste remains an enduring safety and environmental problem in educational institutions, research laboratories, and small-scale industrial settings. In many such environments, neutralization is still performed manually through intermittent pH measurement and operator judgement. This practice is slow, inconsistent, and potentially hazardous, particularly when corrosive substances are involved. The present study proposes and evaluates a smart Internet of Things (IoT) prototype that automates the detection, neutralization, and monitoring of laboratory chemical waste by integrating edge intelligence with secure cloud telemetry.
The proposed system is centered on an ESP32-S3-N16R8 microcontroller, a DFRobot SEN0161 pH sensor, …

Iot-Mobile Solution For Traffic Light Recognition For Color Vision Deficiency Drivers Using Lightweight Edge Ai, J. L. G. N. S. Jayawardhana, S. M. H. M. Koswatta, R. M. H. N. Rajasinghe, C. Arukgoda

Journal of Innovation in Science, Engineering and Technology

Color Vision Deficiency (CVD) is a medical condition that reduces the ability to distinguish certain colors and may occur due to genetic inheritance or acquired retinal damage. Drivers affected by CVD often experience difficulties at traffic light intersections because traffic signals rely entirely on color-based communication. Existing assistive systems mainly address this issue through audio feedback. However, audio-based solutions may perform poorly in noisy urban environments and are less effective for individuals with hearing impairments. The already existing assistive systems provide visual outputs in the dashboard that do not ensure all types of CVD drivers can see the visual output. …

Development Of A Polyherbal Anti-Ageing Cream Using Synergistic Antioxidant Combination Of Withania Somnifera Roots And Psidium Guajava Leaves, W. A. D. M. P. Wanasinghe, W. M. K. M. Ratnayake

Journal of Innovation in Science, Engineering and Technology

Skin ageing is a multifactorial biological process largely accelerated by extrinsic factors such as ultraviolet radiation, pollution, and oxidative stress, leading to structural and functional deterioration of the skin. Due to the strong antioxidant potential of herbal phytochemicals, plant-based anti-ageing formulations have gained increasing attention in the cosmetic industry. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the synergistic antioxidant activity of combined extracts of Withania somnifera roots and Psidium guajava leaves and to develop a stable herbal anti-ageing cream using the most active extract combination. The 95% ethanol extracts of P. guajava leaves (EPGL) and W. somnifera roots (EWSR) were prepared …

Fall 2026 Census Enrollment Indicators Campus Report Tables 1-3, Systems Intelligence And Data Analytics, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Enrollment Reports

No abstract provided.

From Contested Rights To Perceived Threats: The Securitization Of Lgbt And Its Human Rights Implications In Indonesia, Melkias Hetharia, Basir Rohrohmana

Indonesia Law Review

Debates on LGBT rights in Indonesia have largely centred on the legal recognition of same-sex relationships and their compatibility with religion, Pancasila, and the constitutional framework. Recent developments, however, require the discussion to move beyond the question of recognition. This article examines the evolving legal and policy treatment of LGBT persons in Indonesia, particularly following Presidential Regulation No. 111 of 2025, which identifies the “spread of LGBTQ culture” as a non-military threat. Using normative legal research and securitization theory, the article analyses Indonesian constitutional principles, marriage and human rights law, relevant Constitutional Court jurisprudence, defence policy, and documented experiences of …

Spatial Association Of Acute Respiratory Infection, Diarrhea, And Low Birth Weight With Stunting Prevalence In Indonesia, 2024, Dian Rosadi, Husaini Husaini, Triawanti Triawanti, Musafaah Musafaah

Kesmas

Stunting remains unevenly distributed across Indonesia, but national evidence integrating spatial analysis and spatial regression is limited. This study examined the spatial distribution of stunting and its associations with acute respiratory infection (ARI), diarrhea, and low birth weight (LBW) across Indonesian provinces. An ecological cross-sectional study used data from the 2024 Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey. Stunting-only analyses included all 38 provinces, whereas analyses involving ARI, diarrhea, and LBW included 37 provinces with complete data. Spatial analyses used a row-standardized symmetric four-nearest-neighbor spatial weights matrix and included Global Moran’s I, bivariate spatial analysis, Local Indicators of Spatial Association, ordinary least squares, …

Americans For Prosperity Foundation V. Anthony Albence

2026 Decisions

USDC for the District of Delaware

In Re: Malik Mugabe A/K/A Marlon Peek

2026 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Stanley Aristilde V. New York State Office Of The Comptroller

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Stanley Aristilde V. John Capobianco

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

The Influence Of Budgeting And Financial Reporting On Financial Accountability In Religious Organisations: Evidence From Selected Churches In Tanzania, Plasidi Marcel Bayno, Helena Thomas Haule

Business Management Review

Budgeting processes and financial reporting are widely recognised mechanisms for enhancing financial accountability, yet empirical evidence on how these mechanisms influence financial accountability within faith-based non-profit organisations remains limited. Guided by Stewardship Theory and Stakeholder Theory, this study examines the influence of budgeting processes and financial reporting on financial accountability in religious organisations. Using a deductive approach, empirical data were collected from 173 Catholic and Lutheran parishes in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, yielding a total of 471 valid responses aggregated at the parish level for analysis using Partial Least Square Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that both budgeting processes …

Principals’ Experiences With Implementation Practices For School Board Policies In An Urban School District, Andrea J. Richardson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Effective policy implementation is crucial for improving educational outcomes and ensuring equitable learning environments. While existing literature has shown that policy implementation is influenced by factors such as leadership capacity, stakeholder engagement, communication, resource availability, organization context, and accountability, there is little known about how K-12 urban principals narrate, interpret, and make meaning of their experiences to implementing board-mandated policies. This study addressed this gap by exploring how principals in an urban school district in Ohio navigated the complexities of implementing school board policies amid resource limitations, stakeholder resistance, and accountability pressures. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry study …

Implementing A Routine Fall Risk Assessment In Older Adults In An Inpatient Psychiatric Setting, Amaka Obi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of the project was to implement and evaluate a structured fall risk assessment process that promoted the early identification of patients at increased risk for falls and supported interventions designed to prevent fall-related events. A pre- and post-implementation evaluation design was used to assess the intervention's effectiveness by comparing fall rates before and after implementation of the standardized assessment protocol. De-identified data obtained from the electronic health record (EHR) were analyzed using descriptive statistics to evaluate changes in fall incidence and protocol adherence. The project findings demonstrated that provider-led, standardized fall-risk assessments improved screening compliance, provider adherence, and …

Participatory Culture Fandom Nctzen: Studi Kualitatif Interaksi Penggemar Dalam Akun X (Twitter) “Hijau Bersama Indonesia” Pada Aksi Demo Agustus 2025, Fania D. Anjani, Nayla L. Augusty, Kayla Marsyanda, Dian K. Sari

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

This study examines participatory culture and fan activism practices within the NCTzen fandom community through the X (Twitter) account “Hijau Bersama Indonesia” during the August 2025 Demonstration. This study stems from the growing phenomenon of fandoms that are no longer limited to entertainment consumption, but also play a role as social actors in responding to environmental and humanitarian issues in the digital space. This research uses a qualitative approach with a virtual ethnography (netnography) method. Data was collected through online observation, in-depth interviews with actively involved fans, and digital documentation in the form of posts and interactions on the X …

Frederick Wilbur, Frederick C. Wilbur

Virginia Poets Database: A Literary and Educational Resource

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Partial Ablation Of Skeletal Dynamin Related Protein 1 On Mitochondrial Health, Inflammation, And Fibrosis In A Mouse Model Of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Tessa L. Duzz

Graduate Masters Theses

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive neuromuscular disorder characterized by muscle weakness, degeneration, fibrosis, and impaired muscle regeneration. Mitochondrial dysfunction is an early pathological feature of DMD and has been linked to excessive mitochondrial fission. Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) is a central regulator of mitochondrial fission, a key process in regulating mitochondrial quality and function. Inhibition of Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission has shown promise as a potential therapeutic target for alleviating pathology and dysfunction in dystrophic muscle. The objective of this study was to determine whether partial skeletal muscle-specific ablation of Drp1 could improve muscle pathology and mitochondrial health in …

A Discursive Analysis Of Lesbian And Queer Experiences Of Unwanted Consensual Sex, Sarah E. Swanson

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This study drew on a critical discursive psychology (CDP) analytical approach to examine how lesbian and queer participants made sense of unwanted consensual sex (UCS).  The data analysis traced how UCS was constructed on three discursive levels: the construction of UCS across narratives, the interpretive repertoires mobilized (including sexual scripts), and the broader sociocultural discourses that shaped what elements of their experiences were intelligible. Therefore, I sought to understand both how participants drew on familiar heteronormative and queer ways of talking about sex and how various discursive resources shaped how they could construct themselves and others. Data for this research …

“School’S Not For Me. I Don't Belong In School.”: Students With Dis/Abilities’ Perspectives On Special Education During State Intervention, Leila E. Parks

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative study presents the lived experiences of 10 racialized teens with dis/abilities who received special education services in the Boston Public Schools during state intervention. As a youth participatory action research collective, the young people in the study’s Youth with Dis/Abilities Research Group explored issues of inclusion and exclusion, ableism, racism, and safety at school. The project was framed by dis/ability critical race studies, incorporating aspects of critical race theory and disability studies in education. Based on stories expressed through free-writes, poetry, drawings, interviews, and group conversations, the racialized teens with dis/abilities shared negative school experiences overall. Though most …

Our Claims Matter: Latin American Migrants’ Nonviolent And Everyday Resistance Across Transnational Spaces, Pryanka Penafiel-Cevallos

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation examines how Latin American migrants engage in nonviolent resistance across transnational spaces in Ecuador, challenging dominant narratives that portray migrants primarily as passive actors or humanitarian subjects. Focusing mainly on Venezuelan, Colombian, and returned Ecuadorian migrants, the study places migrants’ political agency at the center of analysis. It asks how migrants resist, for what purposes, and under which conditions they mobilize nonviolent and everyday resistance practices to claim rights, dignity, and human security in a host country marked by both legal innovation and growing exclusion.

Drawing on civil resistance theory, everyday resistance approaches, and migration scholarship, the research …

The Difficulty In Defining The Construct Of Perseverance, Davon W. Ferrara, Linda W. Jones

Papers

Perseverance is a character virtue necessary for flourishing in the STEM disciplines; however, there are competing definitions of perseverance in scientific literature, which makes measuring the trait and researching its impact difficult. This work provides a review of the definitions of construct found within the literature and compares it to conflated terms such as grit, persistence, resilience, and self-efficacy that have related, but distinct meanings. Finally, we summarize the role of perseverance in STEM and what factors may influence its formation.

The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the Belmont Formation Collaborative and the Formation Scholars Cohort for Character Research and …

The Difficulty In Defining The Construct Of Perseverance, Davon W. Ferrara, Linda Jones

Posters

Perseverance is a character virtue necessary for flourishing in the STEM disciplines; however, there are competing definitions of perseverance in scientific literature, which makes measuring the trait and researching its impact difficult. This work provides a review of the definitions of construct found within the literature and compares it to conflated terms such as grit, persistence, resilience, and self-efficacy that have related, but distinct meanings. Finally, we summarize the role of perseverance in STEM and what factors may influence its formation.

The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the Belmont Formation Collaborative and the Formation Scholars Cohort for Character Research and …

Modeling Kinetics Of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid-Induced Protoporphyrin Ix Accumulation For Optimal Photodynamic Therapy, Priscilla Melebor

Graduate Masters Theses

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive treatment that uses light-activated photosensitizers to selectively destroy diseased tissue through the generation of reactive oxygen species. However, conventional in vitro models often fail to accurately reproduce the pharmacokinetics of photosensitizer accumulation and clearance observed in vivo. This study investigated protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) accumulation following 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) exposure under physiologically relevant conditions using two-dimensional (2D) monolayers and three-dimensional (3D) spheroids. By comparing continuous ALA exposure with transient exposure followed by ALA washout, this work provides a more biologically relevant framework for studying PpIX kinetics and optimizing photodynamic therapy.

Ndls Communicator: Week Of 08.31.26, Notre Dame Law School

NDLS Communicator

The Latest News

• Notre Dame Law School Welcomes Visiting Faculty for the 2026–27 Academic Year
• ND Law Professor Nicole Garnett Participates in United Nations Consultation on Educational Pluralism
• Notre Dame J.S.D. Candidates Present at the World Congress of Constitutional Law and ICONS

Faculty Briefs

• Sadie Blanchard
• Randy Kozel & Tricia Bellia
• Derek Muller
• Jennifer Mason McAward
• Rick Garnett
• Dennis Wieboldt '26 J.D.
• Announcing Global Visitors
• Dr. Clara Martins-Pereira
• Prof. Paul Yowell
• Prof. Dr. Stephan Wernicke
• Dr. Róisín Costello

Events

• Faculty Colloquium: Mary Ellen O'Connell, Enduring Law for a New Era: Overcoming Political Realism and the Pursuit of Wealth
• Supreme Court …

Competition Policy Meets Environmental Regulation: A Case For ‘Green’ Antitrust, Marie-Laure Cabon-Dhersin Dr., Joanna Poyago-Theotoky, Natacha Raffin

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei Working Papers

We explore the interplay of competition and environmental policies to address the question of whether green antitrust has beneficial effects in terms of both en vironmental and consumer welfare performance. We focus on two environmental policy tools, an emission tax and an emission standard, and explore three par ticular configurations: competitive ‘green R&D, collaborative ‘green’ R&D in the form of a joint lab, and the benchmark case of no ‘green’ R&D. Firms compete in the product market by selling a homogeneous product, either by setting prices (Bertrand competition) or quantities (Cournot competition) while facing convex costs. We show that ‘green …

Crosstalk Between Upr And Mitochondria: The Triad Of Er-Mitochondria Contacts, Ca²⁺, And Ros, Ester Zito, György Hajnóczky

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is triggered by several cellular perturbations causing protein misfolding, and activates the unfolded protein response (UPR), an initially adaptive signaling network that aims to restore ER and cellular homeostasis. Growing evidence indicates that UPR signaling extends beyond ER proteostasis, influencing mitochondrial function and bioenergetics through ER-mitochondria contact sites (ERMCs). The CHOP-ERO1A-IP3R axis has a primary role in recruiting mitochondria to adaptive UPR. However, its sustained activation renders UPR signaling maladaptive, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction through both outer mitochondrial membrane permeabilization (OMMP) and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening, ultimately contributing to irreversible cell injury and disease …

Leading Change In Healthcare: Building Systems, Retaining Nurses, And Creating Healthy Workplaces, Kaynabess Freda, Lisa A. Seldomridge, Crystal Devance-Wilson, Kimberly Hampton, Abigail Johnson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Nurse retention remains a significant international challenge, especially in acute care hospitals where workplace culture, belonging, and professional growth strongly influence retention (Lal, 2024; NursingSolutions, Inc., 2024). The need for effective retention strategies is amplified by factors such as the limited supply of experienced nurses causing hiring delays, declining enrollment in nursing programs, and an aging nursing workforce (AACN, 2024; WHO, 2025).

This presentation shares results from a collaboration among the Maryland Nursing Workforce Center, Lead Nursing Forward, and the Maryland Action Coalition to assess retention strategies in acute care hospitals. Two surveys were developed using the six Nurse Staffing …

How Do Governments Combat Jihad Online?, Noah Cook

Honors College Theses

Since the September 11th, 2001 attacks, jihadist groups like ISIS, al-Qaeda, and al-Shabaab have used the internet as a tool for recruitment, radicalization, and propaganda dissemination. Since then, governments, non-governmental organizations, and private companies have developed strategies to combat jihadism on the internet. This paper examines how these actors have worked to mitigate the digital jihadist footprint and its effects by analyzing three main approaches to countering violent Islamist extremism on the internet: counter narrative initiatives, awareness-raising programs, and content removals. This paper finds that each of these methods has its own strengths and weaknesses. Counter narrative campaigns show the …

The Impact Of Inclusive Leadership And Leader Cultural Intelligence On The Work Engagement Of Migrant Employees, Dena Semonia Whittle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With the rise of globalization and the growing demand for skilled workers, the number of foreign-born employees in the American workforce has grown significantly over the last 20 years. These numbers continue to grow, as the upward trend of foreign-born employees has been even more significant over the last 5 years. However, despite having a now more diverse workforce, there are still signs of discrimination and unequal treatment of migrants in the workplace. Such mistreatment has been linked to health-related, occupational, and psychological consequences and has been negatively associated with work engagement. The purpose of this quantitative study was to …