Digital Commons Network^™

Sensemaking Opportunities For Students Experiencing Difficulty: A Mixed Methods Study, Rachel Juergensen, Delinda Van Garderen

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

All students deserve to be engaged in high-quality science instruction that moves beyond memorization and recall of facts and offers opportunities for sensemaking. Science achievement is alarmingly low signifying there is a large percentage of students experiencing difficulty in science. The low science achievement may be symptomatic of gaps in opportunities for sensemaking within the science classroom. Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, the current study explored the relationship between middle school science teacher beliefs and opportunities students experiencing difficulty in science had to participate in sensemaking discussions. Integrated findings from the study suggest that teachers’ beliefs influenced the …

Tax Rule Validation Using Large Language Models, Sandeep Chandna, Misha Narinsky

Defensive Publications Series

The process of mapping products to jurisdiction-specific tax categories and validating rates against evolving legislation can involve complex, manual effort. A system is described that may leverage Large Language Models (LLMs) to assist with these tasks. The system can be configured to perform functions such as interpreting natural-language text from tax laws to classify products from an internal catalog. Additionally, the system can source and ingest public tax data to compare a company's internal tax rule configurations against external information sources. By automating the cross-referencing of internal product data with external legal and rate information, such a system can facilitate …

The Innovative Technique For Obtaining The Solutions Of Jeffery Hamel Nano-Fluids Flow Problem, Haedir Abd Alrazak Namoos, Abeer Majeed Jasim

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

The study of heat transfer in nanofluid flows is increasingly important in many engineering, medical, and industrial applications. These fluids offer enhanced thermal cooling properties compared to conventional fluids. The research problem lies in the challenges of solving the Jeffrey-Hammel flow model for nanofluids, which includes coupled nonlinear differential equations that describe the thermal and hydrodynamic behavior of this type of flow, taking into account the influence of multiple factors such as the type, size, and concentration of nanoparticles. This research aims to propose a new hybrid analytical technique that combines the Laplace transform and the q-homotopy analysis technique with …

Optimized Hybrid Watermarking: Dual-Scheme Strategies For Enhanced Robustness, Ooi Jessie, Liew Siau Chuin, Syifak Izhar Bt Hisham, Khor Hui Liang, Khoo Bee Ee, Jasni Mohamad Zain

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Digital watermarking is crucial in content identification and copyright protection, particularly multimedia and medical imaging. This paper introduces two novel hybrid watermarking methods, Entropy-Guided Singular Embedding (EGSE) and Entropy-Guided Hybrid Embedding (EGHE), that improve upon existing techniques by integrating entropy-based adaptive block selection with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) for dynamic embedding strength determination. Unlike traditional methods, which rely on fixed embedding regions or manual parameter tuning, the proposed approaches automatically identify high-entropy regions to embed watermark signals, ensuring stronger resistance to distortion while maintaining image quality. EGSE employs Integer Wavelet Transform (IWT) and Singular Value Decomposition (SVD), whereas EGHE enhances …

Retracted: Efficient Multi-User Computation Offloading And Reducing Latency In Mobile-Edge Computing For Iot Applications, Sarmad T. Abdul-Samad, Osamah Al-Hwaidi, Ali Abd Al-Rasool Muslem

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) is an inventive paradigm for computing that has the potential to notably diminish latency and energy consumption by transferring computationally demanding jobs to edge clouds near intelligent mobile users. This investigation aims to reduce offloading and latency between multiple users and edge computing in the context of Internet of Things (IoT) applications in the fifth generation (5G) by utilizing an optimization algorithm called the Bald Eagle Search Optimization Algorithm. Although employing deep learning methods might increase time consumption and computational complexity, an edge computing system enables devices to transfer their demanding jobs to edge servers, decreasing …

Retracted: Iot Flow Parameters Classification Based On Machine Learning Techniques, El-Sayed M. El-Kenawy, Marwa M. Eid, Ban Salman Shukur, Amel Ali Alhussan, Doaa Sami Khafaga

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

In recent years, there has been a highly remarkable convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), which has made rapid progress in smart city initiatives by developing smart devices for such cities. Since these devices are increasingly diversified, they require a resilient communication network to demonstrate high performance in managing consistent traffic flows. A machine learning model intended for identifying network parameters from diverse devices, in addition to proposing modifications meant for network performance enhancement, is developed in this study. In relation to packet data as a network traffic parameter, employing gateway devices can facilitate its …

Retracted: Metaguard: A Federated Learning Approach To Hybrid Xgboost And Meta-Learning Models For Proactive Cyber Threat Hunting, Shatha H. Jafer Al-Khalisy, Ghada Al-Kateb

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

In an increasingly interconnected world, cybersecurity threats have become more sophisticated, necessitating advanced, scalable, and privacy-preserving solutions. MetaGuard emerges as a novel framework that integrates federated learning with hybrid machine learning models, specifically XGBoost and meta-learning, to enhance proactive cyber threat detection. This framework offers a robust, distributed approach to cybersecurity, ensuring high detection accuracy while preserving user privacy through the implementation of differential privacy and homomorphic encryption. MetaGuard leverages distributed nodes to collaboratively train a global model, enabling rapid adaptation to new threats without the need for centralized data aggregation. Experimental evaluations using the CYBER-2024 dataset demonstrate that MetaGuard …

Ineffective Parenting, Alexis Rian

Master of Arts in Human Services

Ineffective parenting can lead to long-term, severe, and lasting consequences for children. Children depend heavily on their primary caregivers for safety and to have their basic needs met. However, not all parents demonstrate positive parenting styles, whether due to a lack of knowledge, limited capacity, or simply a lack of interest. Parenting styles fall into four categories: authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved. The type of parenting style a caregiver adopts can significantly influence the attachment style a child has with them. Four attachment styles that children have are insecure avoidant attachment, secure attachment, insecure resistant attachment, and disorganized attachment. Children …

Not In My Neighborhood! The Harsh Realities Of Sex Offender Registration Laws, Kyle B. Rossow

Master of Arts in Human Services

Sex offender registration laws were created in response to public fear and high-profile tragedies, with the primary goal of enhancing public safety through stringent monitoring of sexual offenders. This paper explores the historical development of these laws, including high-profile cases that later influenced legislative acts, such as the tragic incidents of Jacob Wetterling, Megan Kanka, and Adam Walsh. This paper also explores how media portrayals and public opinion factor into these legislative decisions. While the laws aim to protect the public, they often result in collateral consequences for individuals who have to register. Sex offenders are often held back by …

State Government Policies And Opioid Overdoses And Deaths, William Jerome Howard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, opioid deaths posed a significant public health crisis with profound social and economic implications. The opioid crisis continued despite the implementation of state-level prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP), naloxone access laws (NALs), and Medicaid expansion programs. Existing research demonstrated opioid deaths and nonfatal overdose patterns highlight the need for targeted harm reduction strategies, but there remained a lack of quantitative studies that addressed the effectiveness of opioid harm reduction policies. The purpose of this quasi-experimental quantitative research was to evaluate the relationship between state-level PDMPs, NALs, Medicaid expansion programs, and the COVID-19 global pandemic period (2020-2023), …

Modeling The Importance Of Life Exposure Factors On Memory Performance In Diverse Older Adults: A Machine Learning Approach, Evan Fletcher, Marianne Chanti-Ketterl, Emily Hokett, Yi Lor, Umesh Venkatesan, Ruijia Chen, Omonigho M. Bubu, Rachel Whitmer, Paola Gilsanz, Zvinka Z. Zlatar

Moss-Magee Rehabilitation Papers

INTRODUCTION: Many health life exposure factors (LEFs) influence cognitive decline and dementia incidence, but their relative importance to episodic memory (an early indicator of cognitive decline) among diverse older adults is unclear. We used machine learning to rank LEFs for memory performance in a large and diverse US cohort.

METHODS: Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences (KHANDLE) and Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans (STAR), participants underwent neuropsychological testing and answered questionnaires about multiple LEFs. XGBoost and Shapley Additive exPlanation values ranked the importance of factors influencing cross-sectional episodic memory in the full sample and by sex and …

Usa V. Carl Rose

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Usa V. David Somerville

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Boilermaker Blacksmith National Pension Trust V. Maiden Holdings Ltd

2025 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Andrew Fields V. Bop

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Commonwealth Times 2025-08-20

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Effective Strategies K–12 School Leaders Can Use To Improve Technology Integration In Classrooms, Shamila Ahmed Hashim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With the rapid rise in demand for effective technology integration in K-12 classrooms, particularly in nonpublic schools, strong leadership is crucial. The absence of effective strategies can hinder student learning outcomes, posing a significant challenge for educators who are striving to improve academic success. This qualitative research project included a pragmatic inquiry design was to explore the strategies that some K–12 school leaders apply to improve classroom technology integration and enhance student learning outcomes. Grounded in the technology integration matrix framework, the study involved a purposive sample of five school leaders from nonpublic K-12 institutions in Maryland. Data were collected …

Project-Based Learning With Odes: Modeling Straw Rocket Motion With Air Resistance, Viktoria Savatorova, Ethan Dyer, Aleksei Talonov

CODEE Journal

This paper presents a hands-on project that guides students through building and validating a mathematical model of projectile motion. The project starts with the idealized case of motion under gravity without air resistance and then introduces air drag : first as a linear force, and then as a nonlinear quadratic force, with the Reynolds number providing the justification for the quadratic model. Students perform experiments with vertical and angled launches, capturing and analyzing motion data using video analysis software. Vertical launch data allows parameter estimation via least squares fitting of the nonlinear drag model, yielding values for initial velocity and …

Effects Of Summer School Attendance On The Assessed Reading Proficiency Of Third Grade Students, Lydia Evers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Evidence shows students who are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade are more likely to eventually drop out of high school or be considered illiterate as adults, making it challenging to function adequately in society. The problem addressed through this study was that as many as 60% of U.S. third-grade students scored below proficiency on annual standardized reading assessments. Guided by faucet theory by Alexander et al., the purpose of this causal-comparative quantitative study was to compare reading standardized test scores of third-grade students who participated in a summer school program (SSP) in the summer following second …

Dominant Mid-To-High-Frequency Harmonics Predict Neural Encoding And Perception Of Concurrent Vowels With Large F0 Differences, Fan-Yin Cheng, Sarah Medina, Olaedochim Obinna, Spencer Smith

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Concurrent vowel perception experiments have revealed the importance of fundamental frequency (f₀) differences in speech stream segregation. Understanding neural processes that support speech streaming using f₀ differences remains an active area of perceptual and neurocomputational modeling research. This study simultaneously measured subcortical neural encoding [frequency following responses (FFRs)] and cued vowel identification accuracy of 12 concurrent vowel mixtures with large f₀ differences (>8 semitones) to assess whether f₀-based neural channel selection predicted perception. Results indicated that the strength of f₀-based neural channel selection for one vowel often depended on the …

Travel Professionals’ Successful Strategies For Implementing New Products, Mary Ashley Switzer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rapid introduction of new and innovative travel products presents challenges for travel industry professionals striving to stay competitive in a dynamic marketplace. This is a significant concern for travel professionals and industry leaders, as effectively implementing strategies can improve client satisfaction and support sustained business growth. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to explore the strategies used by travel industry professionals to successfully implement new, innovative tourism products to gain a competitive advantage. Grounded by the Red Queen effect competitive advantage model, six U.S.-based travel professionals with 5 years of experience and at least $1 million …

Tmco1 As An Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Load-Activated Channel: Mechanisms And Disease Implications, Jingbo Wang, Panpan Zhu, Zhuohang Li, Xiaohui Su, Mingzhu Qi, Aimin Zhou, Xiangying Kong

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Calcium ions (Ca2+) play a vital role in many biological processes. Transmembrane and coiled-coil domain 1 (TMCO1) has been characterized as an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) transmembrane protein in recent years. It keeps the cytoplasm and ER's Ca2+ homeostasis stable by acting as a novel calcium channel. Studies from different laboratories have revealed that the mutation or deficiency of TMCO1 is closely correlated with several diseases, including cerebro-facio-thoracic dysplasia (CFTD), glaucoma, premature ovarian failure (POF), osteoporosis, and cancer. Here, we review the characteristics of TMCO1 and its involvement in related diseases, which may provide useful information for developing therapeutic strategies for …

The Impact Of Digital Sexual Health Education Using Social Media On African American Undergraduate Students, Valora Reid Bishop

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite making up approximately 12% of the United States’ population in 2020, African Americans ages 15 to 24 years old comprised 32% of the reported sexually transmitted diseases. The purpose of this quantitative research was to examine the impact of digital sexual health education (SHE) information on sexual health behaviors among African American undergraduate college students aged 18 to 24 years. The two research questions explored if the use of digital SHE information reduced the risk of adverse sexual health behaviors among African American undergraduate college student ages 18 to 24 years old; and if there was a relationship between …

Retrieval Of An Embolized Left Atrial Appendage Occluder From The Aortic Arch Using A Transcatheter Retrieval Device, Juan Siordia, Hussam Al Hennawi, Muhammad Sabri, Daniel Ice, Ronald Ross, Sheena Rastogi, Chunguang Chen, Richard Kovach, Muhammad Raza

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

BACKGROUND: Device embolization is a recognized complication of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedures, with outcomes depending on the location of the embolized device and patient management.

CASE SUMMARY: A 70-year-old male with atrial fibrillation underwent LAAO due to high bleeding risk. Postoperative surveillance revealed an Amplatzer Amulet device embolized in the transverse arch of the aorta. The patient remained asymptomatic, and transcatheter retrieval was planned. A percutaneous approach was used with the ONOCOR system and snare devices with successful retrieval. The patient recovered without complications and remained stable at follow-up.

DISCUSSION: Device embolization often presents challenges, with clinical outcomes …

Draft Final Silver Bow Creek Conservation Area (Sbcca) Construction Quality Assurance Plan (Cqap), Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

The Label Of Low Effort: Exploring Teachers’ Effort-Related Language, Meritocratic Beliefs, And Attribution-Based Responsibility Assignments, Kelly A. Larson

Doctorate in Education

Educators play an integral role in the academic success and future educational trajectory of their students. Yet, in an unjust, hyper-individualistic education system grounded in a meritocratic myth, even the most well-intentioned teachers have a tendency to explain students’ underperformance through a self-protective, deficit-based attribution process that puts the onus of academic achievement almost entirely on students and their families. This recursive cycle is especially damaging for students who do not exhibit effort in normalized, Eurocentric ways. This study examines how teachers’ attributions and responsibility assignments for students’ perceived low-effort behavior are shaped by inequitable meritocratic beliefs and reinforced through …

Acoustic Characterization And Modeling Of Heated Supersonic Tactical Jet Aircraft And Launched Rockets, Logan Troy Mathews

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding and accurately modeling the acoustic sources and propagation of high-intensity tactical jet aircraft and rocket noise is essential for vehicle design, environmental impact assessment, and mitigation strategies. Despite progress in the understanding of these sources, significant challenges persist in both predictive modeling and noise mitigation. This dissertation advances both the characterization of full-scale supersonic tactical jet aircraft noise sources and the development of modern empirical prediction models for rocket launch noise. Across multiple measurement campaigns and modeling efforts, the work integrates advanced array signal processing, high-fidelity field measurements, and improved empirical methods to expand the physical understanding of source …

Working Group Report: Developing A Playbook Of Equitable Grading Practices, Stephen H. Edwards, David L. Largent, Ben Schafer, Debarati Basu, Amy Csizmar Dalal, Dan Garcia, Brian Harrington, Kevin Lin, Dan S. Myers, Christian Roberson, Giulia Toti, Brett Wortzman

Faculty Publications

Traditional points-based grading can have negative impacts. As a result, many educators are experimenting with alternative grading practices that are more equitable for students. However, educators often face challenges in implementing equitable grading practices due to a lack of clear, practical descriptions of techniques and the fact that not all techniques are universally applicable. This working group addresses this problem using a three-pronged strategy: conducting a systematic literature review to gather documented techniques, compiling ''recipes'' or concrete descriptions of these techniques, and publishing them in an open-source, online ''playbook'' of equitable grading practices as a community resource for educators. This …

Post-Traumatic Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody Optic Neuritis: A Case Report, Saif A. Hamdan, Jaime Nassur, Sarah E. Thornton

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) has recently been distinguished as its own disease entity separate from other demyelinating diseases. This case report highlights the possible association of orbital trauma with the development of MOG antibody (MOG-IgG) optic neuritis.

OBSERVATIONS: A 31-year-old male with no significant ocular history presented with blurry vision in the right eye four weeks after a motorcycle crash. Right eye examination was notable for a significant decrease in visual acuity with a relative afferent pupillary defect and circumferential disc elevation on fundoscopy. An extensive workup, including imaging and serology, revealed optic neuritis with a …

Reorganization: An Exploration Of Public Workplace Outsourcing, A Strategic Plan, Joshua Bicchinella

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An education agency experienced a decline in loan originations from 2013 to 2023, creating fiscal challenges that threatened service sustainability. This created a need for operational strategies to stabilize funding and preserve resources. The problem was significant to the organization and the community’s ability to obtain equitable educational opportunities. The practice-focused question asked: What are the perspectives of staff and management concerning the agency's strategies to downsize and realign for sustainability? The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore staff and management perspectives on downsizing and outsourcing as strategies to maintain operations. The study was informed by concepts …