Digital Commons Network^™

Deep Learning-Based Automatic Usability Testing For Detecting Frustration And Confusion In User Interaction, Ahmed Alshehri

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Computing and Information Technology Sciences

Real-time and scalable usability testing methods are the need of the hour as the digital systems evolve to be more adaptive and user focused. Conventional usability assessment methods, including interview and post-task query, are time-consuming, observer-biased and cannot measure emotional response in real-time. This study introduces a deep learning model for automatic usability evaluation using user frustration and confusion detection with the help of affective computing in realistic scenario. We present a CNN-LSTM, hybrid model to capture spatio-temporal emotional features from facial images of video sequences using the DAiSEE dataset with frame-wise user affect annotations in e-learning domain. The model …

Deep Learning Approaches For License Plate Detection In Saudi Arabia, Reemah M. Alhebshi, Abeer Almakky, Lujain Waleed Aljahdali, Raghad Bakr Hawsawi

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Computing and Information Technology Sciences

The most important and challenging tasks in an intelligent traffic monitoring system are vehicle detection and classification. Conventional approaches are significantly computationally intensive and create limitations when the data-collecting modality alters. This study evaluates the effectiveness of deep learning models in extracting and classifying key vehicle attributes, such as license plates, models, and colors, through four AI-driven components for vehicle analysis. The YOLOv8m model was used for detecting the vehicle license plate and character recognition, achieving accuracy ranging from 95.10% to 99.24%. For vehicle model recognition, the Xception model also showed high performance with a precision of 96.79%. The EfficientNetB3 …

Floating Nuclear Power Plants On The Horizon. Do We Need A Revised Brussels Convention On The Liability Of The Operators Of Nuclear Ships?, Jakub Handrlica

Indonesia Law Review

Adopted in 1962, the Brussels Convention on the Liability of the Operators of Nuclear Ships has been considered an obsolete instrument for the last 60 years. In light of renewed interest in floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs), this article revisits the regime of this half-forgotten Convention and calls for its modernisation. The fact is that a robust legal framework for liability and compensation must accompany any prospective deployment of FNPPs. This article argues that adopting a Revised Brussels Convention will help address these challenges. This article aims to identify the reasons for this modernisation and to outline its significant features. …

The Contribution Of Design Thinking To Reducing Excessive Sensitivity To Criticism Among Athletes In Selected Track And Field Events, Liqaa Abdulzahra Obaid

Modern Sport

The study sought to develop two measurement scales—design thinking and excessive sensitivity to criticism—and to determine their levels among athletes participating in selected track and field events. In addition, to examine the role of design thinking in reducing excessive sensitivity to criticism among these athletes. The methodology is descriptive, employing a correlational approach was adopted. The population consisted of athletes in selected track and field events representing clubs in Baghdad Governorate, youth category, who were actively training during the local sports season. The population included 186 athletes distributed across various sprint distances, hurdle races of different distances, shot put, discus …

Analysis Of Students' Problem-Solving Skills In Work And Energy Based On Gender, Miftahuljannah Muslimin

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study analyzes students’ problem-solving skills on Work and Energy using a quantitative descriptive design, profiling performance across five indicators without causal claims. Participants were 85 students from SMA Negeri 1 Barru, South Sulawesi (30 males, 55 females) who answered five essay items scored on useful description, physics approach, specific application, mathematical procedure, and logical progression. Overall means were 57.73 (females) and 60.73 (males); an independent t-test showed p = .333 > .05 with Cohen’s d = 0.22 (small), indicating no meaningful overall difference. By indicator, ANOVA showed no gender differences (α > .05) except for logical progression (p = .029). …

Laughter In Adversity: Exploring The Meaning, Motivations, And Social Uses Of Dark Humor Among Filipino College Students, Jermilen S. Murillo, Criztine A. Capin, Monica R. Mesa, Robyn Nicole A. Torres, Chrizelle M. Villanueva

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

This study explores how Filipino Generation Z college students in Metro Manila utilize dark humor as a coping mechanism for stress management, mental health resilience, and navigating social dynamics. Drawing on a descriptive phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews with nine students aged 21 to 23 years old revealed that dark humor operates as both an emotional outlet and a cultural expression rooted in Filipino values. Themes showed that its use is mindful and context-sensitive, shaped by pakikiramdam (emotional sensitivity) and pakikipagkapwa (relational empathy), allowing participants to reframe grief, ease emotional burdens, and build intimacy within trusted circles. These practices reflect pantawang …

Penerapan Design Thinking Dalam Merancang Media Pembelajaran Pada Mata Pelajaran Ipas Kelas Iii Sekolah Dasar, Dina Lestari, Khikmah Mijil Pawestri, Lina Yekti Oktiningtiyas, Rizky Yuliana Pratista, Tia Sulistiani

Journal of Innovation and Teacher Professionalism

Observations of third-grade students at SD Negeri Gedongtengen were conducted using in-depth interviews within a Design Thinking approach to explore their fears, difficulties, and concerns about learning. The findings indicated that several factors influenced their learning process. Interviews were conducted with two high-achieving and two lower-achieving students. The results showed that learning outcomes were affected not only by internal factors but also by external factors such as learning methods, instructional media, and learning styles. Students experienced difficulty understanding unfamiliar terms in Natural and Social Sciences, particularly in the topic of animal life cycles. Therefore, an engaging and useful learning medium …

Centering Ai Literacy: Exploring Brazilian International Students’ Perceptions Of Chatgpt And Peer Tutoring, Leigh Ann Dunning, Raissa Borges De Oliveira Leal

The Writing Center Journal

For English as an Additional Language (EAL) students, generative AI (GenAI) offers meaningful support for writing in English, while also introducing a new set of challenges. Supporting EAL students in developing AI literacy is crucial to their growth as confident, adaptable writers, and writing center tutors are uniquely positioned to facilitate this development. This case study explores the experiences of undergraduate Brazilian international students at a small liberal arts college who received writing feedback from both peer writing center tutors and ChatGPT. Findings indicate that students valued the human connection, contextual understanding, and rhetorical support offered by peer tutors, while …

Attending To Present Others: A Framework For Supporting Multilingual Graduate Writers, María P. Carvajal Regidor, Allison Kranek

The Writing Center Journal

Extending prior work on present others, individuals who are not physically present in writing center sessions—such as advisors, colleagues, and peers—but who directly or indirectly impact what happens during consultations (Kranek & Carvajal Regidor, 2021), we argue that attending to present others is one way to more holistically support multilingual graduate writers. Based on data from session recordings, we contend that present others can be used as a framework to train consultants to better address the specific needs of this student population by acknowledging their socialization processes, feedback networks, language needs, and emotions. Then, we share two approaches to consultant …

Quantum Readiness In Cybersecurity Education: A Framework For Preparing The Next Generation In The Post-Quantum Era, George Antoniou

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

This framework addresses the critical gap between post-quantum standards and workforce readiness. Shor's algorithm demonstrates that sufficiently powerful quantum computers can break the cryptographic foundations of internet security. While the cryptography research community has developed quantum-resistant algorithms, educational institutions have not prepared students to implement these solutions. Recent surveys show fewer than half of organizations have begun planning for post-quantum cryptography (PQC) transitions (Entrust Cybersecurity Institute, 2024; U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2023; (ISC)², 2024). The NICE Framework (Newhouse, Keith, Scribner, & Witte, 2017) outlines the knowledge and skills that cybersecurity professionals should possess. The framework omits post-quantum cryptography entirely. Organizations …

Implementation Of Machine Learning And Large Language Models For High Entropy Alloys, Ruth E. Mellin

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Independent Study

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are a relatively recent class of materials formed by alloying five or more elements in near-equimolar ratios. Their promising mechanical and thermal properties make them promising for a wide range of applications, however, the vast compositional space presents a challenge for efficient exploration. As a result, robust and structured databases are critical for guiding HEA research and accelerating materials discovery. In this project, a computational pipeline was developed to leverage large language models (LLMs) for extraction of compositional data and relevant properties from existing HEA literature. The program integrates structured prompt design, parallel execution, and deterministic post-processing …

Smart Healthcare Systems Use: A Cross-Cultural Empirical Study Using Valence–Instrumentality– Expectancy Theory, Khaled A. Alshare, Murad Moqbel, Valerie L. Bartelt, Maysoon Sewailem

Information Systems Faculty Publications

In recent years, smart healthcare systems (SHS) spurred by the Internet of things have revolutionized how people manage their health. Despite their numerous benefits, SHS still face many challenges worldwide, including limited user motivation. This study builds on the valence-instrumentality-expectancy theory to examine the motivational factors influencing the use of SHS, while also considering the moderating role of social support. We conducted two studies— one in the United States and the other in Qatar—to assess how well the proposed model applies across different cultural contexts. Our findings show that the model explains users’ motivations to use SHS and the interdependencies …

The Concept, Dimensions, And Measurement Of Innovative Competitive Behavior Of Chinese Scientific And Technological Personnel, Rui Li

Double Helix Methodology

Introduction: While competitive behavior in innovation activities is increasingly prevalent in practice and actively promoted by policymakers, it remains an under explored area in academic research. To bridge this gap, we introduce the concept of “innovative competitive behavior,” providing a conceptual definition and clarifying its theoretical boundaries, rooted in social comparison theory from psychology. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed to systematically examine this construct. First, a qualitative study guided by grounded theory was conducted to explore the core dimensions of the construct. Subsequently, a quantitative phase involved the development and validation of a psychological scale through questionnaire surveys and …

Reimagining Wpa And Writing Center Administration Centering Minority Writers, Saurabh Anand

The Writing Center Journal

This piece explores the discussions surrounding multilingualism, internationalization, and queerness within writing center studies (WCS). As a branch of writing program administration (WPA), this piece situates above-disciplinary conversations in relation to second language studies (SLS) and broader language and literacy education scholarship to identify areas where disciplinary collaboration and attention are still needed, particularly around questions of professional development, administrative strategies, and pedagogies supporting multilingual writers in writing center spaces. This piece begins by reviewing the major trends, contributions, and key terms in existing literature centering on multilingual writers and SLS to identify ways and areas of collaboration and disciplinary …

Experimental Analysis Of Droplet Deformation Dynamics In Combined Dc Electric And Shear Flow Fields Using Dpiv, Ayad Ibrahim Khlewee

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

This paper presented a systematic study of such droplet deformation at the intersection of uniform DC electric field and hydrodynamic shear flow, in which we focused on conductivity ratio (R) and permittivity ratio (S), describing their influence. The results demonstrate that droplet dynamics is extremely sensitive to the regime: under DC only, either elongation or compression depending on whether R > S or R S, similarly to classical EHD predictions. Under shear-only conditions, deformation was dictated by the balance of elongational stresses (EC) and rotational stresses (RC), with increasing capillary number (Ca) leading to progressive elongation and oscillatory orientation dynamics. When …

Generative Ai For Method Development In Analytical Chemistry: A New Paradigm In Experimental Design And Optimization, Yasir Fathi Mahmood

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

The fast development of artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI models, is changing the environment of analytical chemistry. As classical method generation in analytical methods relies on manual trial-and-error methodology as well as statistical methods, generative AI is a new paradigm with automated generation of experimental methodology and optimization. In this paper, the authors discuss the use of generative AI-based technologies, including large language models (LLMs) and neural network-based generators, to create new, efficient, and customized methods of analysis. The paper examines existing applications, technology frameworks, and issues and offers a roadmap with regards to the future incorporation of generative …

Numerical Modeling And Experimental Validation Of A High-Temperature Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage System Using Metallic Phase Change Materials For Concentrated Solar Power Applications, Fouad Hashim Sharhan

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

To ensure reliable performance for the power-block of CSP plants, high power density and near-isothermal discharge must be achieved. A robust means of achieving this is through thermal energy storage (TES). High temperature latent heat storage (LHS) with phase change materials (PCMs) can serve these purposes, however the conventional salts used in PCMs typically suffer from low thermal conductivity that limits power density and increases energy storage charging/discharging times. This manuscript investigates ways to address these limitations using high temperature metallic phase change materials (MPCMs) while also developing a validated numerical framework to aid in their design. To this end, …

Thermal Performance Evaluation Of Solar Cooling Systems For Educational Facilities In Baghdad, Yasser Alawi Mohammed Attia Al-Jubouri

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Schools in Baghdad also suffer from poor thermal comfort, which is a common problem in high-temperature and low-humidity arid climates such as that of the city, where using cooling devices leads to a large energy demand and overloads on the national power grid. Such study offers a thorough assessment of the thermal performance of solar-based cooling systems in an efficient manner to be suitable for educational buildings in Baghdad. The analysis is centred on a solar thermal cooling system with absorption as the heat interaction medium, and an experimental characterisation and mathematical simulation itself are performed. A pilot installation, consisting …

Construction And Data-Driven Analysis Of A Stochastic, Individual-Based Opioid Epidemiology Network Model, Leigh Bennett Pearcy, Owen Queen, Vincent Jodoin, Suzanne Lenhart, Christopher Strickland

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

While substance use epidemiology has been an active area of mathematical research in recent years, the social and mental processes that are involved in the development of substance use disorders have presented challenges to advancing the epidemiological theory and how they differ from the contraction of pathogenic disease. Such distinction is especially pertinent in the context of the current United States opioid epidemic and its intersection with the recent COVID-19 pandemic, as both prescription drugs and social influence play major roles in the development of opioid use disorder. In this paper, we construct a stochastic network model capturing how individual …

On The Intersectionality Of Second Language Writing Research And Writing Center Practice: Facing Today’S Diverse Linguistic Landscape, Ghada Gherwash, Hadi Banat

The Writing Center Journal

Guest editors' introduction for The Writing Center Journal 43:3 (2025).

From “Contact Zone” To “Collaborative Zone”: Multilingual Writers’ Tensions And Opportunities In The Writing Center, Qianqian Zhang-Wu, Isabelle M. Lundin, Neal Lerner

The Writing Center Journal

Writing center scholars have adopted Pratt’s (1991) “contact zone” metaphor to describe the diversity of consultants and students in writing centers, but this literature has largely overlooked the perspectives of multilingual students. Through surveys, interviews, and session data, we found that while multilingual students described rich linguistic identities, they also experienced tension and instability as language users. Students often framed their considerable language assets as deficiencies in academic writing contexts. They faced additional tension between instructor expectations and their own understanding of assignment goals. Students frequently sought native-like language competency from consultants and expected them to serve as informants about …

Autistic Adults In-Session Experiences In Psychotherapy: A Qualitative Meta-Analysis Of Helpful And Harmful Factors From First-Person Perspectives, Elizabeth Kilgallon

Graduate Masters Theses

Autistic adults face heightened mental health needs yet encounter significant barriers in psychotherapy. Research on psychotherapy has often emphasized quantitative trials of specific modalities, while little attention has been paid to autistic adults’ own perspectives about in-session therapeutic processes. There is a need for clinical guidance that foregrounds autistic clients’ lived experiences of therapy, with emphasis on identifying what they find helpful or harmful, to inform accessible and affirming practice. In the present study, I conducted a qualitative meta-analysis that investigates autistic adults’ first-person accounts of psychotherapy. Thirty-three studies were included in the analysis. I used critical-constructivist grounded theory to …

Information Processing In Quantum Thermodynamic Systems, Shou-I Tang

Graduate Masters Theses

This thesis extends the classical autonomous Hamiltonian framework of information thermodynamics to the quantum regime. In this formulation, a composite system consisting of a principal system, a heat bath, a memory, and a work source is described by fully quantum, time-independent Hamiltonian dynamics. By introducing the quantum speed limit (QSL) for the system and memory subsystems, referred to as the Quantum Thermodynamic Speed Limit (QTSL), I establish a connection between the QTSL and Landauer’s principle. This relationship reveals the fundamental constraints on quantum information processing in terms of dynamics and energy costs during the evolution. Furthermore, I present an interpretation …

How What We Feel Is Associated With What We Hear Early In Development: The Role Of Vision In Audio-Tactile Association, Shibo Cao

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Sound-shape correspondences, also known as bouba-kiki effect, is the preferential mapping of nonsense sound like “baluma” to rounded abstract shapes while mapping nonsense sound like “takete” to spiky abstract shapes. Such association was seen for auditory and visual stimuli (AV), and auditory and tactile stimuli, which are touched but not seen (AT). Literature comparing typically-developing and early-blind adults showed AT association differ as a function of level of visual experience, and similar finding was also found comparing typically-developing adult and children. Specifically, typically-developing younger children benefited from prior AV experience of abstract shapes and nonsense sounds. While these findings suggest …

Empowering Youth In A Changing Climate: Design, Implementation, And Evaluation Of A Salt Marsh Summer Science Program, Dan Levesque

Graduate Masters Theses

Climate change presents not only environmental challenges but also emotional challenges for today’s youth. This thesis documents the design, implementation, and evaluation of a field-based summer science program aimed at empowering adolescents with coastal salt marsh ecology while addressing climate change emotions and science identity development. The program, based in a Massachusetts salt marsh, was adapted from existing public environmental curricula and guided by place- and experience-based learning principles. Over Spring and Summer 2025, 13 students (ages 13-18) participated in extra-curricular field trips, hands-on research activities, and reflective discussions about the environment and the emotions it brings forth. Pre- and …

External Debt And Economic Growth In Sub-Saharan African Hipcs: Linear And Nonlinear Dynamics, Swaliki Kisige Isabirye, John Mutenyo, Oryema John Bosco

Tanzanian Economic Review

Abstract

Economic growth in Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) in Sub-Saharan Africa remains heavily influenced by external financing conditions, making the role of external public debt a critical empirical and policy issue. Governments in the region depend on external borrowing to supplement limited domestic resources, yet the extent to which such debt supports or constrains economic growth is still contested. This study therefore examines the linear and nonlinear impact of external public debt on economic growth using a panel of 20 HIPCs covering the period 2000-2024. Employing the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimator within a dynamic ARDL framework, the analysis …

Dual-Interface Wifi Packet Sniffer System Using Esp32-Cam With Real-Time Pcap Generation For Iot Network Analysis, Boy Setiawan Boy, Maghfiroh Maulani, Zico Pratama Putra, Muhammad Senoyodha Brennaf

Makara Journal of Technology

This study focuses on designing and implementing a cost-effective and energy-efficient WiFi packet sniffer system using the ESP32. The ESP32-CAM module, which combines WiFi, Bluetooth, and microSD support, is used to capture IEEE 802.11 frames in real-time via promiscuous mode. Packets are stored in packet capture format, which is compatible with tools such as Wireshark and Scapy. Developed using the official ESP-IDF, it offers low-level control and high performance. Two user interfaces were implemented: a UART-based text menu and a web-based HTTPS menu hosted on the ESP32 itself. Functional and performance evaluations were conducted with a focus on capturing broadcast …

Digital Twinning To Advance Effluent Water Treatment For Pulp And Paper Mills: A Data-Driven Approach For Process Optimization, Fatima Iqbal, Fatemeh Naeijian, Christopher Page, George Fu, Francisco Cubas-Suazo, Stetson Rowles

Civil Engineering & Construction: Faculty Publications

The pulp and paper industry is the third largest freshwater consumer and faces pressure to minimize water usage and environmental impact. Aerated stabilization basins (ASBs) play a crucial role in treating their wastewater, yet existing open-source models often fail to accurately predict treatment efficiency across varying conditions. This study addresses this gap by advancing ASB modeling for ultimate oxygen demand prediction. Specifically, we improved accuracy with variable temperature corrections and incorporating uncertainty to capture the variability in outputs. The models demonstrated strong predictive performance for ultimate oxygen demand (mainly carbonaceous and nitrogenous biochemical oxygen demand) with R2 values ranging from …

“Kailan Ka Magkakaanak?” Understanding The Rise Of The Dual Income And No Kids (Dink) Families In The Philippines, Maria Veronica Y. Cervantes, Lucille Beatrice P. Casipit, Stephanie Marie D. Jacob, Sabrina Yunis C. Obispo, Marie_Valen N. Cortez

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

The Dual Income, No Kids (DINK) lifestyle is gaining popularity in the Philippines as couples prioritize financial freedom and personal development. It is recognized that in the Philippines, where family-centered values hold significant importance, living a childfree lifestyle remains a rare choice. However, this choice has recently gained attention, reflecting a growing tension between traditional expectations and modern aspirations. Lack of literature on Dual Income, No Kids (DINK) families in the Philippines created a gap in understanding this phenomenon and failed to present how Filipino couples navigate this choice. The study employed a transcendental phenomenological (TPh) approach, which involves understanding …

Living Through Adversity: Understanding Discrimination, Resilience, And Psychological Well-Being Among Filipino Transgender Youth, Allaiza Liz M. Sarino, Athena Christine P. Garcia, Kirsten Jada P. Hinto, Stella P. Go

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

Transgender youth continue to face systemic discrimination and social marginalization. These barriers can hinder their development and negatively affect their psychological well-being. However, little is known about the specific ways Filipino transgender youth experience discrimination and develop resilience. To address this gap, this study sought to understand the lived experiences of Filipino transgender youth, focusing on the discrimination they face and the resilience factors that contribute to their psychological well-being. This study employed a descriptive phenomenological approach, utilizing online in-depth interviews with nine transgender youth aged 17 to 23 from Metro Manila, comprising five female-to-male and four male-to-female individuals, who …