Digital Commons Network^™

Learning Programming In Informal Spaces: Using Emotion As A Lens To Understand Novice Struggles On R/Learnprogramming, Alif Al Hasan, Subarna Saha, Mia Mohammad Imran

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Novice programmers experience emotional difficulties in informal online learning environments, where Confusion and Frustration can hinder motivation and learning outcomes. This study investigates novice programmers' emotional experiences in informal settings, identifies causes of emotional struggle, and explores design opportunities for affect-aware support systems. We manually annotated 1,500 posts from r/learnprogramming using the Learning-Centered Emotions framework, applying clustering, and axial coding. Confusion, Curiosity, and Frustration dominated emotional experiences, sometimes co-occurring and linked to early learning stages. Positive emotions were infrequent. The primary emotional triggers included ambiguous errors, unclear learning pathways, and misaligned resources. We identify five key areas where novice programmers …

An Automated Surrogate-Assisted Optimization Framework For Rapid Microfluidic Channel Design Of Point-Of-Care Diagnostic Devices, Ronald Jose, Yunjian Qiu, Lin Jiang, Yun Wang

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Saliva-based point-of-care diagnostic devices provide accessible, non-invasive health monitoring but face engineering challenges in ensuring reliable, cost-effective performance outside laboratory settings. Traditional design approaches rely heavily on repeated cycles of simulation, design, and prototyping, creating computational bottlenecks that slow innovation. This work introduces an automated surrogate-assisted optimization framework that integrates multiphysics simulation data, surrogate modeling, and multi-objective optimization to accelerate microchannel design. Synthetic datasets generated through multiphysics simulations are used to train a neural network surrogate model capable of predicting flow performance metrics, including the Dean number and pressure drop. This trained model achieved a mean squared error of 0.000012 …

Quantum Geometry Effects In The Very Early Universe And Black Hole Spacetimes, Meysam Motaharfar

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Loop quantum gravity (LQG) techniques applied to symmetry-reduced spacetimes generically resolve the big bang and black hole interior singularities of classical general relativity. In loop quantum cosmology (LQC), the big bang singularity is replaced with a non-singular quantum bounce connecting the pre-bounce contracting and post-bounce expanding branches, while the black hole interior singularity is, in general, replaced with a smooth finite transition surface yielding a black-hole-to-white-hole transition. In this dissertation, we investigate the implications of quantum gravitational singularity resolution for the physics of the very early universe and black holes within the LQG/LQC framework. In the first part, we show …

Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence For Real-Time Quality Assurance In Additive Manufacturing, Md Shafikul Islam

LSU Master's Theses

Additive manufacturing requires quality assurance methods capable of detecting process anomalies before defects propagate across subsequent layers. This thesis develops a trustworthy artificial intelligence framework for real-time surface anomaly detection in Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) using laser-derived depth maps and Vision Transformers (ViTs). Conventional convolutional models aggregate global context gradually through stacked local kernels, which can limit their sensitivity to spatially distributed surface deviations. The proposed approach instead tokenizes depth-map patches and applies global self-attention to classify four process conditions: normal printing, under-extrusion, over-extrusion, and empty or void regions. The framework combines token-level attention visualization, vanilla saliency, Integrated Gradients, and …

Extending Premerger Notification To Labor Markets, Eric A. Posner, Elena Prager

Coase-Sandor Institute for Law & Economics Research Paper Series

US antitrust law requires mergers above a certain size to be reported to the federal antitrust agencies for review prior to consummation. For decades, this premerger notification process and subsequent merger review focused nearly exclusively on product markets. In the last few years, the agencies have also begun to challenge mergers on their effects on labor markets. But the agencies’ ability to detect potential labor market harms is hampered by an absence of labor market information at the premerger notification stage. This article proposes specific types of information that the agencies could collect about labor markets in order to put …

A Review Of Juvenile Solitary Confinement In The United States: Why Developmental Science Supports Banning Isolation Of Youth, Morgan R. Wagner, Krystia Reed, April Thomas

Northwestern Journal of Human Rights

The use of solitary confinement in carceral settings has been prevalent in the United States for as long as the justice system has been in place. The practice of isolating people who are incarcerated from the general prison population was adopted in the juvenile justice system as well, despite the system’s purported focus on rehabilitation. This paper reviews the developmental psychological literature suggesting that solitary confinement can harm adolescents in a variety of ways (psychological, psychosocial, and physical). We then discuss the prevalence of juvenile solitary confinement in federal and state courts. Finally, considering this research, we identify goals for …

Mandating Proactive Algorithmic Accountability: A Study Of Legal, Economic, And Technological Challenges In Combating Human Trafficking On Chinese Social Media Platforms, Haoyu Dong

Northwestern Journal of Human Rights

Human trafficking increasingly relies on digital platforms, where algorithms connect traffickers with buyers, amplify illicit content, and facilitate transactions at an unprecedented scale. Yet China's legal framework remains largely reactive, imposing liability on platforms only after illegal content has been detected and removed. This Article argues that such a notice-and-takedown approach is no longer sufficient to combat trafficking in an algorithm-driven online environment.

This Article proposes a proactive model of algorithmic accountability. It contends that digital platforms should be held legally responsible when they fail to design, monitor, and refine their algorithms to prevent the dissemination and amplification of trafficking-related …

Direct Measurement Of Stem Position For Gas-Lift Valves While Flowing At High Pressure, Paulo E. Reitz

LSU Master's Theses

The present work challenges the idea of estimating the gas lift valves true dynamic stem position by providing an alternative capable of tracking the real stem position during flow tests. This is of interest for the improvement of performance determination tests and procedures that involve critical safety concerns, complex training and considerable investments, both in time and money. This scenario, together with the strong interest of industry for valve optimization and the scarcity of works available in literature, encouraged this study. An apparatus named Vision System was developed for tracking and measuring the stem position during flow tests. The developed …

Nurses’ Knowledge And Practices Regarding Infection Prevention Measures In Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Marwa G. Abouheiba, Maha Adel Salem, Jean Bertin Mudenge

Nursing

Abstract: Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain a major global patient safety challenge, contributing substantially to morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospitalization, antimicrobial resistance, and increased healthcare costs. Patients admitted to cardiac intensive care units (ICUs) are particularly vulnerable because of their critical illness, frequent exposure to invasive devices, and complex cardiovascular interventions. Nurses play a pivotal role in preventing HAIs through the consistent implementation of evidence-based infection prevention and control (IPC) measures. Therefore, assessing both nurses' knowledge and their observed clinical practices is essential for identifying strengths, potential gaps, and opportunities for quality improvement. Aim: To assess nurses' knowledge and observed practices …

Nurses’ Knowledge And Practices Regarding Perioperative Patient Safety Measures Provided For Cardiac Patients, Marwa G. Abouheiba

Nursing

Abstract: Background: Perioperative patient safety is a fundamental component of high-quality surgical care, particularly for cardiac patients who are highly vulnerable to preventable adverse events throughout the surgical continuum. Nurses play a pivotal role in ensuring patient safety through the implementation of evidence-based perioperative safety measures. However, variations in nurses' knowledge and clinical practice may compromise the consistent delivery of safe perioperative care. Aim: This study aimed to assess nurses' knowledge and practices regarding perioperative patient safety measures provided to cardiac surgical patients. Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenience sample of 89 nurses working in …

A Minimum-Phase Approach To Optical Signal Processing, Hector Alejandro Rubio Rivera

Theses

Phase retrieval is the algorithmic process of recovering the phase of a signal from more accessible quantities, such as iterative transformations of its magnitude response. The phase often reveals far more about the underlying system than the magnitude alone, yet conventional retrieval methods rely on software approaches that use computationally expensive iterative algorithms or hardware solutions that are sensitive to manufacturing variations.  In this dissertation, we show that the phase can be retrieved via a Hilbert transform of the magnitude response, bypassing iteration entirely, provided that the underlying system structure satisfies the minimum-phase condition. We apply this to three classes …

Echoes Of Medieval Timekeeping In Middle-Earth And Valinor, Kristine Larsen

Journal of Tolkien Research

Throughout his six-plus decades of work spent tinkering with his invented world and its mythology, Tolkien experimented with numerous calendars and timekeeping schemes, some relying upon direct pre-telescopic observations of the heavens and others mathematical calculations. This paper investigates medieval resonances and echoes in a sample of his various schemes, demonstrating how Tolkien’s use of medievalist timekeeping is consistent with, and greatly adds to, his creation of a self-consistent invented world

What I Brought With Me: Bilingualism, Resistance, And Identity In U.S. Doctoral Education, Xiao Hu

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

In U.S. higher education, the bilingualism of international doctoral students is often reduced to a measure of English deficiency rather than recognized as a linguistic and cultural resource. Drawing on Anzaldúa's borderlands theory, this autoethnographic study examines the lived experiences of a female Chinese international doctoral student negotiating bilingual identity in U.S. academia. Using personal journals, written correspondence, field notes, and memories of significant encounters as data, this inquiry explores three dimensions of experience: the ways bilingual identity is misread or appropriated in academic spaces; the relationships that offered recognition and belonging; and the cultural and pedagogical knowledge that bilingualism …

Multidimensional And Burgeoning Leadership: Literacy And Multilingualism, Emily Howell, Hazel Vega, Lindsey W. Rowe, Katie M. Crook, C.C. Bates, Kavita Mittapalli, Amlan Banerjee

Publications

This design-based research study worked with 25 teachers with specialized early literacy training. Researchers investigated the impact of professional development advancing their multilingual learner (ML), literacy, and leadership capacity, addressing gaps in the research merging the fields of literacy, multilingual instruction, and leadership. Spanning two years of both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis including teacher, student, and district surveys, teacher logs, research logs, and teacher interviews, the researchers capture the iterative nature of the needs of teacher professional development to serve MLs. The researchers describe the needs of teachers for professional development, the micro modifications made to adapt …

An Ecophysiological Approach To Improving Health Outcomes Of Ornamental Shrimp During Aquarium Trade And Transportation, Sancha Conway Holroyd, John Spicer, Robert P. Ellis, Lucy Turner

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Ecophysiology examines the interactions between an organism’s physiology and its environment. It seeks to understand how an organism functions and adapts under changing conditions. This has direct applications to live-trade aquaculture sectors, including the ornamental aquarium trade, where traded animals experience a variety of changing, and often stressful, environmental conditions that can threaten their health and survival. This review proposes a role for ecophysiology in managing organismal health, using Hatch (1962) theoretical framework of disease and dysfunction as a foundation for defining and distinguishing health. We focus on tropical (marine and freshwater) ornamental shrimp as an exemplar group to highlight …

Impact Of Social Media-Driven Feeding Practices On The Gut Microbiome Of Captive Asian Elephants (Elephas Maximus) In Surin, Thailand, Pongpreecha Malaluang, Nuttapon Bangkaew, Jaruwan Chaiyakhot, Patinya Patikae, Nattaya Watwiengkam, Phimphanit Choklikitumnuey, Thanaphat Phupanna, Sudachanok Phowiset, Prim Chuesaard, Tarid Purisotayo

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

This study investigated the effects of social media-driven live-streaming dietary supplementation on the gastrointestinal microbial community of captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) at the Elephant Kingdom, Surin Province, Thailand. A hierarchical two-tier observational design was used: Tier 1 compared a minimal-supplementation control group (Group H, n = 6) with a frequent heterogeneous-supplementation group (Group L, n = 18); Tier 2 compared, within Group L, low-frequency (Group A, ≤ 3 sessions per week, n = 7) and high-frequency (Group B, > 3 sessions per week, n = 11) live-streaming sub-groups. Faecal microbial profiles were obtained by 16S rRNA gene (V3–V4) …

Role-Preset Pluggable Dreaming Pipeline With Reflection-Over-Prior-Dreams Operators, Gustavo Matthew Assuncao

Defensive Publications Series

Autonomous LLM personas accumulate a continuous stream of heterogeneous day events. A naive "summarize-the-day" digester compresses that stream once, weights every event identically across personas, applies one forgetting curve, and never reasons across the sequence of its own prior digests. This publication describes a role-preset pluggable dreaming pipeline: a per-persona memory-consolidation process decomposed into four named, swappable stages — scoring, clustering, synthesis, and reflection — where (a) the concrete algorithm for each stage is selected by a role preset, (b) each scoring algorithm carries its own role-specific recency half-life, and (c) a distinct reflection stage runs operators over the persona's …

Technical Disclosure: Integrated Space Readiness Training Center (Isrtc), Christopher L. Eckes

Defensive Publications Series

Current ground-based deep-space environmental analogs suffer from an institutional vulnerability designated as "Escape Room Bias." When human subjects operate under an implicit institutional guarantee of safety, their cognitive, behavioral, and adaptive responses default to gamified problem-solving rather than genuine expeditionary survival. This psychological insulation limits the validity of collected behavioral datasets to less than 20% of actual deep-space operational reality, leaving aerospace organizations blind to the most critical human failure mode in high-consequence environments: the psychological freeze response under unyielding peril.

The Integrated Space Readiness Training Complex (ISRTC) eliminates this predictive gap by establishing an enduring Dynamic Test Assembly operating …

Automated Multi-Stage Semantic Analysis And Synthesis Of Heterogeneous Unstructured Operational Repositories, Michael Vianana, Tanmay Kayande, Nigel Nageer, Nupur Murlidharan

Defensive Publications Series

Modern organizations often struggle to identify systemic structural issues because post-mortem reviews, lessons-learned records, and risk logs are isolated in unstructured narrative text files across disparate storage repositories. A system is described that utilizes a multi-stage language model processing pipeline to autonomously aggregate, structure, and cross-reference completely unstructured, multi-source operational narrative text documents to expose global systemic risks and organizational blind spots. The system continuously connects to raw text silos, extracts semantic entities, and standardizes unstructured content into a globally normalized taxonomy to map risk correlations. Keywords: unstructured data, semantic analysis, natural language processing, language models, risk management, data clustering, …

Association Of Malocclusion Prevalence And Gender In Lebanese Schoolchildren Aged 8 To 10 Years: An Epidemiological Cross-Sectional Study., Toufic Boutros Abou Rjeily, Nada Chedid

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Introduction: Malocclusion is a deviation in the alignment of the teeth and jaws, which can result in an improper bite. Malocclusion can stem from various etiological factors affecting both functionality and esthetics and leading to oral health problems. An orthodontic assessment in the mixed dentition should include a comprehensive history, a thorough clinical examination, and any relevant additional examinations.

Objectives: The present study’s purpose was to assess the prevalence of malocclusion among 8-to-10-years-old Lebanese children, through a cross sectional study.

Methods: 613 child were included in the study. Clinical assessments of malocclusion, gender differences, dental substance loss, and harmful habits …

Antibacterial Efficacy Of Resin-Based Dental Composites Modified With Antibacterial Agents Against S. Mutans: A Systematic Review, Ahmad Setiawan Jarigau, Erwin Gunawan, Muhammad Akira Takashi Dharma, Fanny Dinda Nur Aulia, Lenni Indriani Hatta, Nurhayati Natsir

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Introduction: Dental caries caused by Streptococcus mutans is a leading cause of dental restoration failure. Enhancing composite resins with antibacterial agents aims to inhibit bacterial growth and prolong restoration life.

Objectives: This review evaluates the anti-bacterial agents efficacy of these modified composites against S. mutans and explores their mechanisms and potential clinical benefits.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases following PRISMA guidelines, focusing on in vitro studies published between 2015 and 2025. Studies evaluating composites with antibacterial additives against S. mutans using standard microbiological assays were included. The quality of eligible studies was assessed using the …

Effect Of Home Bleaching With Carbamide Peroxide And Over-The-Counter Products On Stained Supra-Nano-Filled Composite: An In-Vitro Study., Lynn Harrouk, Pascale Habre, Samar Bou Jaoude, Carina Mehanna Zogheib

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objective: This study evaluated the impact of home and over-the-counter (OTC) bleaching products, compliant with SCCS regulations, on color changes in tea-stained supra-nano filled composite, using the CIEDE2000 formula.

Methods: One hundred Estelite® Sigma Quick discs were fabricated, thermocycled, and tea-stained for 12 days. Samples were divided into four groups: Opalescence 15% carbamide peroxide (CP) gel, White Dental Beauty 6% hydrogen peroxide (HP) strips, Pola Luminate 6% HP brush-on gel, and a control. Color was measured at baseline, post-staining, and post-bleaching using a VITA EasyShade spectrophotometer. ΔE₀₀ values were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn’s post-hoc tests (p < 0.05).

Results: All bleaching …

Comparison Of Three Intraoral Scanners For Digital Impressions Of Biologically Oriented Preparation: An In-Vivo Study, Lara Habli, Pascale Habre-Hallage, Hani Tohme, Dany Noujaim, Maryse Nassif, Camille Haddad

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Introduction: The accuracy of intraoral scanners (IOSs) in capturing a Biologically Oriented Preparation Technique (BOPT) remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of digital impressions obtained with three intraoral scanners for recording BOPT preparations.

Methods: A maxillary central incisor was prepared following BOPT. After temporization, a conventional polyvinyl siloxane impression was scanned with a desktop scanner to obtain a reference model. Forty-two scans (n D 14 per scanner) were recorded with three IOSs—Trios 3, Sirios, and Helios 680—by a single operator under standardized conditions. Accuracy was assessed using Geomagic Control X by calculating 3D surface …

Hypo-Responsiveness Of The Dental Pulp In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes And Hypertension: A Cross-Sectional Study, Kavitha M, Mallolu Anthony Sanjana Vijay, Niveditha B, Fathima A.I, Pavithra D, Vigneshwaran J

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus and hypertension, two of the most prevalent metabolic disorders worldwide, exert profound and progressive effects on multiple physiological systems. While their systemic complications are well documented, their subtle yet clinically significant impact on oral structures, particularly the dental pulp, remains underexplored.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the functional responsiveness of dental pulp nerves in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and systemic hypertension, and to compare the findings with responses from healthy individuals, using an Electric pulp tester (EPT) as a diagnostic tool.

Methods: A total of 600 teeth from 75 adult patients (25 diabetic, 25 …

The Efficacy Of Mini-Screw Rapid Palatal Expansion (Marpe) In Late Adolescents And Young Adults: A Systematic Review, Afaf El Merouani Drissi, Hajar Ben Mohimd, Hicham Benyahia, Fatima Zaoui

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Introduction: Mini-screw assisted rapid maxillary expansion (MARPE) emerged as a less invasive alternative treatment for transverse maxillary expansion, and designed to overcome the limitations of conventional rapid maxillary expansion for patients from post-pubertal growth spurt period onwards, often presenting with an interdigitated suture. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the efficacy of this treatment on skeletal, dento-alveolar and periodontal levels based on CBCT studies, by comparing it to the conventional rapid maxillary expansion (RPE).

Methods: a literature search of five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect and the Cochrane library) was conducted from 2010 until July …

Illuminating Sanja Matsuri: Lived Religion And Festival Practice In Asakusa, Caleb R. Merckle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines Sanja Matsuri, a major Shintō and Buddhist festival in Asakusa, Tokyo, through the lenses of lived religion, participant observation, autoethnography, and anthropology. Departing from institution-centered approaches, it foregrounds the experiential dimensions of festival participation, showing how physical devotion, collective movement, and festive intensity function as expressions of spiritual meaning. Ethnographic fieldwork conducted in 2023 and 2025 included participant observation, informal interviews with local and foreign participants, and Reflexive Discourse Analysis of fieldnotes and bilingual transcripts. Analysis reveals a dynamic interplay between formal sacralization strategies — such as mitama-ire rituals and structured processions — and spontaneous, informal participant …

Progesterone And Cerclage Together For Short Cervix: Evaluating Potential Complementary Effects For Improved Preterm Birth Prevention, Vincenzo Berghella, Ilaria Paladino, Moti Gulersen, Lauren Sayres, Amanda Roman, Rupsa C. Boelig

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

Management of patients with a short cervical length (CL) on transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) often involves therapy with vaginal progesterone and/or cervical cerclage. Although these interventions are frequently viewed as alternative strategies, they may also represent complementary approaches targeting different mechanisms involved in spontaneous preterm birth. As in other areas of medicine, therapies with different mechanisms are often used together rather than as mutually exclusive options. In line with current level 1 evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses of RCTs on either vaginal progesterone or cerclage, in singleton gestations with no prior spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB), vaginal progesterone is …

General Education Primary Teachers’ Perspectives Of Inclusive Practices To Engage Students With Special Educational Needs, Zhen Rolle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was that general education primary teachers (GEPTs) struggled to engage students with special educational needs (SEN) in Bahamian primary inclusive classrooms (BPICs). The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate GEPTs’ perspectives on their successes, challenges, and additional training needed to engage students with SEN in BPICs. This study was guided by universal design for learning, pioneered by Rose and Meyer, which supported an inclusive academic environment that accommodated students with SEN. For this basic qualitative design, data were collected from semistructured interviews with 10 GEPTs. Through thematic analysis, the following five themes …

The Specifics Of Green Mortgages: A Case Study Of Poland, Mateusz Tomal, Ewa Gorlecka-Łabiak

Journal of Banking and Financial Economics

The green mortgage market in Poland has received limited research attention. Therefore, this article aims to present the specifics of the green mortgage market in Poland. To thoroughly investigate the issue, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 banking sector representatives, each with varying experience and professional roles. The study’s findings revealed that there is no formal definition of green mortgages, which hinders both banks and their customers. Currently, green mortgages are rarely granted due to their limited economic benefit to borrowers and the small number of residential properties that qualify. For banks, green mortgages present an opportunity to expand their …

Specific Carbohydrate Diet Versus Mediterranean Diet In Adult Patients With Mild To Moderate Ulcerative Colitis: A Randomized Controlled-Feeding Trial, Albert Sheng-Yin Chen, Long Nguyen, Brianna Gray, Katherine Williams, Jenny Gurung, Lauren Canha, Jessica Mcgoldrick, Jane Hubbard, Hamed Khalili

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Background and aims: This pilot randomized controlled-feeding trial compared the effect of Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) and Mediterranean diet (MeD) in mild to moderate ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: Seventeen adults were randomized to a 6-week SCD (n = 8) or MeD (n = 9) intervention. Primary outcome was change in partial Mayo Clinic score (pMCS).

Results: The study was discontinued early due to significant dropout (n = 9, 52.9%). There was no significant between-group differences observed for pMCS change (SCD, -0.8; MeD, -1.3; p = 0.499) or secondary outcomes. Exploratory metagenomic analysis revealed enrichment of Parasutterella excrementihominis …