Digital Commons Network^™

Blockchain-Integrated Edge-Cloud-Enabled Healthcare Data Analytics Based On Distributed Federated Learning And Deep Neural Networks, Mazin Abed Mohammed, Mohd Khanapi Abd Ghani, Israa Badr Al-Mashhadani, Sajida Memon, Sajida Memon, Haydar Abdulameer Marhoon, Marwan Ali Albahar

Mesopotamian Journal of CyberSecurity

The exponential growth of healthcare Internet of Things (IoT) data necessitates secure, low-latency analytics that extend beyond centralized architectures. This paper presents BDAFL DNN, a blockchain-integrated data analytics framework that combines Federated Learning (FL) and Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) for real-time, privacy-preserving healthcare analytics across edge and cloud resources. Local devices such as smartwatches and phones collect noninvasive time series sensor streams (heart rate, temperature, and abdomen sensors), perform on device DNN training, and send only model updates to healthcare edge nodes, where a blockchain ledger validates updates for integrity and traceability; validated updates are then aggregated in the cloud …

Improvement Of The Face Recognition Systems Security Against Morph Attacks Using The Developed Siamese Neural Network, Sura Abed Sarab Hussien, Thair Abed Sarab Hussien, Nada Hussein M. Ali

Mesopotamian Journal of CyberSecurity

Face Recognition Systems (FRS) are increasingly targeted by morphing attacks, where facial features of multiple individuals are blended into a synthetic image to deceive biometric verification. This paper proposes an enhanced Siamese Neural Network (SNN)-based system for robust morph detection. The methodology involves four stages. First, a dataset of real and morphed images is generated using StyleGAN, producing high-quality facial images. Second, facial regions are extracted using Faster Region-based Convolutional Neural Networks (R-CNN) to isolate relevant features and eliminate background noise. Third, a Local Binary Pattern-Convolutional Neural Network (LBP-CNN) is used to build a baseline FRS and assess its susceptibility …

Mitigating Zero-Day Vulnerabilities In Iiot Systems: Challenges And Advances In Ai-Powered Intrusion Detection Systems, Khalid Asaad Hashim, Yusnani Binti Mohd Yussoff, Shahrani Binti - Binti Shahbudin

Mesopotamian Journal of CyberSecurity

Zero-day attacks are one of the great challenges that intrusion detection systems have been facing and keep on facing today, especially worsening within Industrial Internet of Things environments since their ability to take advantage of unknown vulnerabilities results in a high rate of false negatives. It is under this framework that this paper presents a set of experiments that have been carried out with the objective of analyzing the consequences of zero-day attacks with regard to performance degradation in Intrusion Detection System (IDS) and, secondly, and with greater emphasis, about those failings which have been pointed out up to now …

A Proposed Algorithm For Avoiding Jammer In Structure-Free Wireless Sensor Networks, Zainab Shaker Matar Al-Husseini, Hussain K. Chaiel, Amel Meddeb, Ahmed Fakhfakh, Ahmed Fakhfakh

Mesopotamian Journal of CyberSecurity

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have emerged as a transformative technology with applications in critical and often inaccessible environments, including military and security domains. These networks comprise cooperative sensor nodes that gather and relay data to a base station. However, their inherent resource constraints—particularly the non-rechargeable nature of energy—pose a major challenge to network longevity and reliability. Conventional fixed-path transmission protocols exacerbate this issue, as energy-depleted or jammed nodes can disrupt communication, leading to partial or complete data loss. The primary objective of this study is to design and evaluate a structure-free transmission protocol that dynamically adapts data routing in order …

Associations Of Biomarkers Of Systemic Inflammation, Angiogenesis, And Cell-To-Cell Adhesion With Tumor Budding Among Early-Onset And Later-Onset Colorectal Cancer Patients, Oda Hausmann, Adetunji T Toriola, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: High tumor budding and elevated systemic inflammation are adverse prognostic indicators in colorectal cancer. Its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. It is unclear whether systemic inflammation, angiogenesis, and cell-to-cell adhesion influence tumor budding.

METHODS: We investigated n = 132 stage I-III colorectal cancer patients recruited at Huntsman Cancer Institute enrolled in the ColoCare Study. Tumor budding was evaluated using an evidence-based scoring system, and patient sera were analyzed for nine circulating biomarkers using the Meso Scale Discovery platform. We examined associations between biomarkers and tumor budding using multivariable linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, neoadjuvant treatment, stage, and …

The Double-Edged Role Of Cognitive Reappraisal: A Moderated Mediation Model Of Manager Support And Emotional Exhaustion Among Hotel Supervisors, Han Chen, Yvette Green

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

Applying the Conservation of Resources Theory and the Affective Event Theory, this study explores the interplay between perceived manager support (PMS), negative emotions, and emotional exhaustion among hotel supervisors. The study also examines the moderating role of cognitive reappraisal strategy on the above relationships. Data were collected from a sample of U.S. hotel supervisors. Results showed that negative emotions play a mediating role in the relationship between PMS and supervisors’ emotional exhaustion. Cognitive reappraisal amplified the negative effect of PMS on negative emotions, the positive relationship between negative emotions and emotional exhaustion, and the indirect effect of PMS on emotional …

Preparing The Next Generation Of Health Education Teachers For The Ethical Use Of Ai, Melissa J. Haithcox-Dennis, Reeshemah Johnson

Journal of Research Initiatives

This article examines how health education teacher preparation programs can prepare future educators to use artificial intelligence (AI) in responsible and effective ways. It begins with a brief overview of the use of AI in education, considering the growing impact of generative AI technologies on teaching and learning. The article outlines international and national standards that govern the application of AI in education, addressing key ethical concerns, including the dissemination of inaccurate health information, violations of student privacy, bias, and inequitable access to AI tools. The article emphasizes the importance of ethical decision-making and professional responsibility when integrating AI into …

Like Playing Plinko: A Conceptual Framework For Student Financial Aid Communication, Alyssa Takatori, Karla A. Weber-Wandel, Z.W. Taylor

Journal of Research Initiatives

The process of applying for and receiving student financial aid is an incredibly complex process involving multiple stakeholders (students, institutions, parents, counselors), levels of information (federal, state, institutional, personal), and modes of communication (print, email, text message, social media, phone calls). Moreover, first-generation students, low-income students, and students of color are most likely to struggle with the financial aid application and awarding process, further marginalizing these students. To date, research has examined how complicated the financial aid process is, how to identify financial aid communication issues, and how to remediate financial aid communication to render it simpler and more intuitive …

Me, Myself, And Others: Emphasizing Identity Through Social-Emotional Learning As A Contributor To Adolescent Development, Marie Hall

Journal of Research Initiatives

Adolescence is a remarkable developmental period where figuring out who you are can feel essential. Relationships and sense of self are at the forefront during this period, as establishing a sense of connection can lead to positive social experiences that contribute to a myriad of benefits, ultimately facilitating positive life outcomes. School is often a central location for engagement, where relationships and a sense of self are explored, thereby serving as a primary social structure for youth. While adverse outcomes have been identified through this developmental period, school-based interventions that promote positive identity development and social connection have begun to …

A Review Of Androctonus Of Iran, With Redescription Of A. Crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) And A. Orientalis (Birula, 1900) Stat. N., And Descriptions Of Four New Species (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Ersen A. Yağmur, František Kovařík, Victor Fet, Graeme Lowe, Mohammad Moradi, Farzaneh Kalami

Euscorpius

No abstract provided.

Improving Hospital 30-Day Readmission Rates Through Post-Discharge Follow-Up Phone Calls, Maureen R. Wright

DNP and Student Works

Background: Thirty-day hospital readmissions compromise patient safety, increase mortality risk, and impose financial penalties on hospitals. Ineffective discharge education and care transitions leave patients vulnerable after discharge. Evidence shows that post-discharge follow-up calls within 24–72 hours can identify risks early and reduce preventable readmissions.

Purpose: This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to reduce 30-day hospital readmission rates by implementing post-discharge follow-up telephone calls guided by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Re-Engineered Discharge (RED) Toolkit.

Methods: Registered nurses conducted structured follow-up calls within 24–72 hours of discharge from the medical-surgical unit, reviewing health status, medications, appointments, …

Uinta Basin Snow Shadow: Impact Of Snow-Depth Variation On Winter Ozone Formation, Michael J. Davies, John R. Lawson, Trevor O’Neil, Seth N. Lyman, Karlee Zager, Tristan D. Coxson

Bingham Research Center

After heavy snowfall in the Uinta Basin, Utah, elevated surface ozone occurs if a cold-air pool persists and traps emissions from oil and gas industry operations. Sunlight and actinic flux from a high-albedo snowpack drive ozone buildup via photolysis. Snow coverage is paramount in initiating the cold pool and driving ozone generation. Its depth is critical for predicting ozone concentrations. The Basin’s location leeward of the Wasatch Mountains provides conditions for a precipitation shadow, where sinking air suppresses snowfall. We analyzed multiple years of ground-based snow depth measurements, surface ozone data, and meteorological observations; we found that ozone levels track …

Large-Scale Graph Algorithms And Applications With An Emphasis On Fintech Data, Fuhuan Li

Dissertations

Graph algorithms are essential analytical tools with applications spanning cybersecurity, biology, social media, and increasingly, financial technology (FinTech). The complex and interconnected nature of financial data, particularly in cryptocurrency networks, presents unique opportunities for graph-based analysis in fraud detection and anomaly identification.

This dissertation presents the design and implementation of scalable graph algorithms tailored for large-scale networks, with particular emphasis on FinTech applications. The primary contributions include: (1) novel cover-edge based triangle counting algorithms that significantly reduce computational overhead through breadth-first search preprocessing, achieving substantial speedups over traditional methods and dramatic communication reduction in distributed settings, (2) optimized parallel implementations …

Reduced Order Models Of Hydrodynamically Interacting Flapping Wings, Jose Pabon

Dissertations

Fish schools exhibit a collective behavior and self-organization that is mediated by hydrodynamic interactions between individual fish. However, the long-time evolution of hydrodynamically interacting collectives is challenging to investigate due to the persistent influence of long-lived vortical structures, and the high-resolution requirements of direct numerical simulation at large Reynolds numbers. Reduced-order models have therefore played an important role in theoretical investigations of collectives of swimming bodies. The main results detailed herein are several new reduced-order models of swimmers that self-propel by flapping, i.e., by executing a prescribed periodic rigid body motion. The models are extensions of a discrete-time dynamical system …

Development And Implementation Of Novel Mass Spectrometric Methods For Metabolism Studies In Drug Discoveries, Huifang Yao

Dissertations

The field of drug discovery has evolved significantly over the past few decades, with a growing emphasis on understanding the metabolic pathways and biotransformation processes that influence the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drug candidates. Novel mass spectrometric methods have emerged as powerful tools in this domain, facilitating the comprehensive analysis of metabolic profiles and enabling the identification of metabolites with implications for safety, efficacy, and overall drug development. However, challenges remain in quantifying metabolic flux—an essential aspect of understanding drug action—particularly due to the limitations of traditional isotope kinetic assays, which often involve lengthy sample preparation and the use of …

The Effect Of Cultural Literacy, Ethnocentrism And Xenophobia On Intercultural Sensitivity In Intern Nurses In Türkiye, Yasemin Gümüş Şekerci, Beyza Gül Yıldırım

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: With rising migration and multicultural patient populations, understanding the factors that shape intercultural sensitivity among healthcare workers has become essential. This study aims to determine the effect of cultural literacy, ethnocentrism, and xenophobia on intercultural sensitivity in nurse interns.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 206 intern nurses from three universities in a province of Türkiye. A simple random sampling method is used. Data are collected by using the Introductory Information Form, Intercultural Sensitivity Scale, Cultural Literacy Scale, Ethnocentrism Scale, and Xenophobia Scale. Multiple regression is used for data analysis.

Results: Cultural literacy (β = …

Potential Biological Hazards In Health Clinics: Key Strategies For Enhancing Worker Safety In Malaysia, Subki Ahmad, Normah Awang, Ermie Abdull Hamid, Anuar Ithnin, Nurul Farahana Kamaludin, Noraizah Muhd Nor

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Biological hazards in health clinics may lead to acute or chronic health issues for healthcare workers. This study aims to identify potential biological hazards within health clinics, with a focus on the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of healthcare workers, in order to improve their safety.

Methods: Samples from environmental surfaces were collected and cultured to identify bacterial pathogens. A cross-sectional study involving 203 healthcare workers was conducted using a questionnaire derived from CDC-adapted guidelines. Descriptive analysis and multivariate regression were used to assess KAP.

Results: Bacterial growth was observed in all clinics. The Kruskal-Wallis Test …

Doing Away With Racial Profiling In Policing Without Doing Away With The Rule Of Law, François Tanguay-Renaud

All Papers

Since the turn of the millennium, Canadian appellate courts have been investing increasingly systematic efforts in demystifying and curtailing racial profiling in policing. These judicial efforts have so far been focused on the application of the legal criteria for arrest and detention as well as their regulation under section 9 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In this article, I contend that this unidimensional approach is unsound and outline a corrective path forward. First, I argue that the prevailing judicial understanding of what racial profiling is and how it affects the lawfulness of arrests and detentions has the …

The Pure Yang-Mills Field, James Glimm

Department of Applied Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

We construct a pure Yang-Mills quantum gauge field theory. The construction is based on the axial gauge, ghost states, the BRST framework and the entropy production maximizing Gribov extension of the Hamiltonian, with a loop expansion to all finite orders for the dynamics. The construction is established by renormalized perturbation theory to finite order. Reflection positivity and the reconstruction theorem are established. Hilbert space convergence of renormalized perturbation theory is a consequence of the reconstruction theorem. All Osterwalder-Schrader axioms are verified. A two-sided mass gap exists in the energy spectrum for the weak coupling limit of low temperature. The conditions …

The Missing Link: Gingos, Ingos, And The Fractured Promise Of Localization, Stella D. Bosch

Theses

This thesis examines collaboration gaps between international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) and grassroots international nongovernmental organizations (GINGOs) in the localization agenda. While humanitarian and development work are often viewed separately, many organizations operate across both areas, shifting between emergency response and long-term engagement. For this research, “localization” refers to efforts aimed at addressing power imbalances and improving collaboration with local actors, especially in small island nations where vulnerabilities and capacities intersect. The study began as a comparative case design across Cabo Verde, Vanuatu, and Comoros but shifted to an explanatory approach after data constraints redirected the scope. Madagascar was added to …

Standing On Stare Decisis After Students For Fair Admissions, Areeb Asif, Lindsey Roloff

Northwestern University Law Review

The Supreme Court recognized nearly half a century ago in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke that “the ‘nation’s future depends upon leaders trained through wide exposure’ to the ideas and mores of students as diverse as this Nation of many peoples.” Nevertheless, the Court seriously undercut efforts to bring such a future to life by striking down race-conscious admissions programs in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina (collectively SFFA). Though SFFA’s binding effect is limited to educational institutions, …

No Trade Wars Without Taxation -Who's To Blame, And What Comes Next?, Domenico Imparato, Reuven S. Avi-Yonah, Doron Narotzki

Law & Economics Working Papers

As tariff policy once again shapes U.S. trade strategy, this article makes a foundational claim: trade wars are, at their core, tax wars. Against the backdrop of escalating economic tensions with the United States’ trade partners, this article argues that tariffs cannot be understood apart from the fiscal architecture that sustains them. What appears to be protectionism often masks deeper structural asymmetries in the U.S. tax system.

The discussion proceeds through three interrelated dimensions: reshoring production, promoting fair trade, and raising revenue. In each, the interaction between tariffs and the tax system reveals deeper distortions. U.S. export mechanisms such as …

2+2 Doesn't Always Equal 4: A Mixed Methods Approach To U.S.-Born Children Of Immigrants' Cultural Identities And Belonging, Teriin Lee

Dissertations

Within the next generation, one in five adults born in the United States will be a child of immigrants. Despite this, research on children of immigrants is limited. Specifically, the scholarship on this growing demographic limited their experiences to cultural identity, as it pertains to belonging. Simply put, the literature supposes that children of immigrants’ cultural identities define their sense of belonging. Moreover, the literature lacks insight into the lived experiences of children of immigrants, despite the increasing prevalence of this population.

This study aimed to address how children of immigrants experience cultural identity and belonging. A mixed methods research …

Enhancing Patient Outcomes: Developing A Comprehensive Database For Tracking Post- Dural Puncture Headache Incidence And Contributing Factors, Meredith B. Auge, Brittany Bogonovich

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Manuscripts

Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is a debilitating complication following labor analgesia, often resulting from unintentional dural puncture (UDP). While national incidence is approximately 1.5%, institutional rates may vary due to provider experience, documentation practices, and patient factors. This Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) quality improvement project aimed to improve identification and monitoring of UDP and PDPH through a revised tracking tool, retrospective review of 2024 data, and planning for an electronic registry. A multidisciplinary team of anesthesiologists, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNAs), and IT and quality specialists revised an existing tracking tool to better …

Utilizing Simulation Training To Understand Maternal Cardiac Arrest Precipitated By Amniotic Fluid Embolism: A Quality Improvement Project, Erica L. Wright, Megan L. Tiernan, Michael W. Neft, Paige Spagiare, Erica Coffin

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Manuscripts

Background and Problem: Maternal cardiac arrest precipitated by amniotic fluid embolism is among the leading direct causes of death among laboring women (Enomoto et al., 2022). Because it presents suddenly without any immediate apparent cause and lacks specific diagnostic tests, frontline obstetric caregivers must be vigilant, competent, and prepared to handle this potentially catastrophic emergency. Coordination among multiple disciplines is paramount since two lives, not just one, are at risk. Unfortunately, the rarity of maternal cardiac arrest significantly limits opportunities for staff to learn how to identify and manage these events successfully. Method: This quality improvement project established a simulation-based …

Native Spaces: The Struggle For Colleges To Incorporate Native Frameworks Into Curriculums, Eleanor A. Gelb

Honors Scholar Theses

Out of the thousands of universities in America, there are only thirty-seven Native American Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTIs), schools with ten percent or more of the total student population being of Native American descent. While many typical American colleges offer courses on Native American history for students with Native American studies majors and minors, the students involved in these programs are often taught through the lens of traditional schooling, which negates the full effectiveness of these classes. Native leaders across the country are pushing for Native frameworks to be adopted by universities so that past and contemporary Native histories may …

Charles Coughlin: Conspiratorial Radicalization And The Making Of A Fascist, Rachel D. Thompson

Graduate Masters Theses

This paper traces the radicalization of Father Charles Coughlin, a radio populist radio preacher from the 1930s who is most well known today for the extreme anti-Semitism and fascist tendencies which defined the later parts of his career. It seeks to determine why Father Coughlin became a fascist, as well as examining how much of his fascism was evident in his earlier years. Major areas of focus include: 1) A conspiratorial anti-Communist worldview that would align Coughlin with right-wing authoritarianism and was present from his early days. 2) His ascent to becoming a national figure as a populist radio preacher …

Choked: How Decades Of Failures To Address Air Pollution And Housing Shortages Exacerbated Mortality In Pittsburgh During The Influenza Pandemic Of 1918, Virginia Montanez

Graduate Masters Theses

Pittsburgh experienced the highest death rate of all major U.S. cities during the 1918 H1N1 influenza pandemic. This record mortality was not due to inadequate, absent, or ignored nonpharmaceutical interventions and mandates. Instead, for decades prior, city officials prioritized industry at the expense of the collective health of the laboring class. They were especially egregious in permitting industrial smoke pollution and overcrowded housing to persist in immigrant-heavy working-class wards, leaving residents susceptible to respiratory disease incidence and mortality. As a result, Pittsburgh’s annual influenza and pneumonia death rates were drastically the worst in the nation to such an extent that …

Design And Development Of A Standalone Digital Holographic Microscope Employing Phase-Driven Reconstruction And Classification For Biomedical Imaging And Optical Diagnostics, Charlotte Kyeremah

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Access to advanced biomedical imaging technologies remains a significant challenge in resource-limited settings, especially for early disease detection and monitoring of diseases such as malaria, HIV, and other blood-borne diseases. Although point-of-care (POC) devices have gained popularity in global health, many rely on antibody-based tests, lateral flow strips, or optical readouts that often lack quantitative capabilities, sensitivity to early infections, or versatility in different diagnostic targets. In addition, these systems are typically dependent on disposable reagents or manual interpretation, which limits their effectiveness in remote areas. Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM) presents a promising alternative as a label-free imaging method capable …

Low-Cost Cutaneous Protoporphyrin Ix (Ppix) Detection (Cpd) Device For Follow-Up Monitoring Of Patients After Photodynamic Therapy, Md Asaduzzaman Rasel

Graduate Masters Theses

Background: Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) utilizes specific wavelengths of light to activate photosensitizing chemical compounds, known as photosensitizers, which induce the generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) for the targeted destruction of cancer cells. Among various photosensitizers for PDT, Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is widely employed in oncology and dermatology due to its natural in situ generation via the metabolic conversion of 5- aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a non-phototoxic prodrug. Systemic administration of ALA after 3-6 hr drug delay leads to peak PpIX accumulation in tissues, facilitating therapeutic and diagnostic applications. However, PpIX can persist in the skin for 24–48 hours post-treatment, …