Digital Commons Network^™

Molecular Identification And Phylogenetic Analysis Of Hydra Vulgaris From Greater Zab River, Iraq, Shwan Khursheed Bashê

Baghdad Science Journal

No genomic data for Hydra vulgaris was recorded in Iraq. DNA barcoding is a modern technique used for accurate identification that is more important than previous studies utilizing morphology characters. This study aims to investigate the identification of H. vulgaris based on genomic analysis using the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) and construct a phylogenetic tree as the first study in Iraq. In our current investigation, we found species of Hydra from the Greater Zab River during June–July 2022, with average Water temperatures (25.1–29.6°C), Hydrogen potential (pH) 7.5–7.8, and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) 6.3–7 mg/l. As a result, …

Hexavalent Chromium (Vi) Removal Efficiency From Petroleum Refinery Effluent Using Hybrid Constructed Wetlands Planted With Arundo Donax L. In Erbil, Iraq, Dilshad Ganjo Ahmad Ganjo

Baghdad Science Journal

This work assessed the efficacy of A. donax L. (giant reed) in outdoor hybrid-built wetland (HCW) experiments for the removal of the Cr (VI), from KCPS refinery effluents (32 km southwest of Erbil, Iraq). Results showed that A. donax L. macrophyte experienced an excellent adaptation and tolerance of the highly polluted effluent by Cr (VI), based on their significant biomass output and perfect survival rate over the entire 91-day experiment. The Cr (VI) concentrations taken from the outlet samples of HCWs (planted with A. donax L.) ranged from (0.04 to 0.12 mg/l), with a mean value of (0.07 ± …

Construction Method Of Digital Twin System For High-Low Temperature Test Chamber, Qinghua Chen, Zuoyou Liang, Weijuan Guan, Jiadong Ji, Ping Liu

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In view of the construction requirements of the digital twin system of the high-low temperature test chamber, the EMQX server with MQTT as the communication protocol is used for data transmission. Driven by real-time data, real-time dynamic interactive mapping between the physical entity and the virtual model is realized. The neural network model and genetic algorithm are used to evaluate and predict the running state of the equipment and provide the system adjustment strategy, so as to realize the whole climate, life and working condition of the staff to understand the running state of the equipment, and effectively ensure …

The Effects Of Sleep Restriction And Time Of Day On Food-Specific Impulsivity, Approach-Avoidance Bias And Delay Discounting, Naomi Kakoschke, David L. Dickinson, Sean P. A. Drummond

ESI Publications

Background:

Insufficient sleep and circadian timing are both linked with obesity, primarily via unhealthy food choice, yet the cognitive mechanisms underpinning such relationships remain unclear.

Methods:

Across two studies, we implemented an ecologically valid within-subjects at-home protocol. Study 1 (n = 118) involved a within-subjects examination of how sleep restriction (SR) versus well-rested (WR) sleep levels affect choices in a food-based approach-avoidance task (AAT) and go–no/go (GNG) task, a food liking task, a food-choice task, a psychomotor vigilance task (PVT), and a monetary choice task. Study 2 (n = 119) involved examining choices in the same set of …

Cultural And Linguistic Adaptation Of An Autism Parent Mediated Intervention For Spanish Speaking Latinos, Ana C. Ramirez, María Cecilia Montenegro, Bianca T. Villalobos, Nazaret Fresno, Gabriel González Núñez, Rocio Calderon, Susana Perez Kantor, Miriam Mares, Miriam Ortiz, Geohanna Noel, Cecilia Montiel-Nava

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

The Caregiver Skills Training (CST) was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve access to evidence-based services for children with developmental concerns from low-income backgrounds. While the CST program has undergone four significant revisions to increase feasibility of implementation and has been adapted and implemented in more than 30 countries, currently the Spanish version is outdated and has never been implemented in the U.S. This study aimed to culturally and linguistically adapt the Spanish-version of the CST for a predominantly Spanish-speaking Latino-populated region in the United States. The present study followed a community based participatory research (CBPR) approach …

The Joint Effect Of Esg Practices And Financial Development On The Financial Performance Of Asian Companies, Ali Yehia Fouda

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices, financial development, and financial performance in the Asian markets. This research uses econometric models to analyze two key aspects of financial performance: Return on Assets (ROA), and Tobin’s Q. The results show that there is a negative relationship between ESG practices and financial success, highlighting the financial burden imposed by sustainability initiatives. Machine learning model (XGBoost) has been used to check the robustness of the regression model. Some Commonalities and other differences have been recognized. Yet, the regression model results have been relied upon. Financial development serves as …

A Beacon Of Hope In Public Health, June 20, 2025, Tisa Mason Ed.D.

Heart of a Tiger Columns

No abstract provided.

Primary Mouse Choroidal Endothelial Cell Culture, Qiuhua Yang, Yongfeng Cai, Qian Ma, Yuqing Huo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The study of choroidal endothelial cells is essential for understanding the pathological mechanisms underlying choroidal neovascularization and other vision-threatening disorders. Traditional methods for isolating and culturing primary endothelial cells often yield mixed populations or require specialized equipment, limiting their widespread use. Here, we present a straightforward protocol for isolating and culturing primary mouse choroidal endothelial cells. This protocol involves enzymatic digestion of choroidal tissue, magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) to enrich CD31+ endothelial cells, and optimized culture conditions to promote cell proliferation and maintain endothelial phenotype. The protocol is strategic, reproducible, and requires minimal specialized equipment, making it accessible for researchers …

Multi-Ancestry Genome-Wide Association Analyses Incorporating Snp-By-Psychosocial Interactions Identify Novel Loci For Serum Lipids, Amy R Bentley, Michael R Brown, Solomon K Musani, Karen L Schwander, Thomas W Winkler, Mario Sims, Tuomas O Kilpeläinen, Hugues Aschard, Traci M Bartz, Lawrence F Bielak, Jin-Fang Chai, Kumaraswamy Naidu Chitrala, Nora Franceschini, Mariaelisa Graff, Xiuqing Guo, Fernando P Hartwig, Andrea R V R Horimoto, Elise Lim, Yongmei Liu, Alisa K Manning, Ilja M Nolte, Raymond Noordam, Melissa A Richard, Albert V Smith, Yun Ju Sung, Dina Vojinovic, Rujia Wang, Yujie Wang, Mary F Feitosa, Sarah E Harris, Leo-Pekka Lyytikäinen, Giorgio Pistis, Rainer Rauramaa, Peter J Van Der Most, Erin Ware, Stefan Weiss, Wanqing Wen, Lisa R Yanek, Dan E Arking, Donna K Arnett, Christie Ballantyne, Eric Boerwinkle, Yii-Der Ida Chen, Martha L Daviglus, Lisa De Las Fuentes, Paul S De Vries, Joseph A C Delaney, Amanda M Fretts, Lynette Ekunwe, Jessica D Faul, Linda C Gallo, Sami Heikkinen, Georg Homuth, M Arfan Ikram, Carmen R Isasi, Jost Bruno Jonas, Liisa Keltikangas-Järvinen, Pirjo Komulainen, Aldi T Kraja, Jose E Krieger, Lenore Launer, Lifelines Cohort Study, Jianjun Liu, Kurt Lohman, Annemarie I Luik, Ani W Manichaikul, Pedro Marques-Vidal, Yuri Milaneschi, Stanford E Mwasongwe, Jeffrey R O'Connell, Kenneth Rice, Stephen S Rich, Pamela J Schreiner, Lars Schwettmann, James M Shikany, Xiao-Ou Shu, Jennifer A Smith, Harold Snieder, Nona Sotoodehnia, E Shyong Tai, Kent D Taylor, Lesley Tinker, Michael Y Tsai, André G Uitterlinden, Cornelia M Van Duijn, Diana Van Heemst, Melanie Waldenberger, Robert B Wallace, Hwee-Lin Wee, David R Weir, Wen-Bin Wei, Ko Willems Van Dijk, Gregory Wilson, Jie Yao, Kristin L Young, Xiaoyu Zhang, Wei Zhao, Xiaofeng Zhu, Alan B Zonderman, Ian J Deary, Christian Gieger, Hans Jörgen Grabe, Timo A Lakka, Terho Lehtimäki, Albertine J Oldehinkel, Martin Preisig, Ya-Xing Wang, Wei Zheng, Michele K Evans, Michael Province, James Gauderman, Vilmundur Gudnason, Catharina A Hartman, Bernardo L Horta, Sharon L R Kardia, Charles Kooperberg, Ching-Ti Liu, Dennis O Mook-Kanamori, Brenda Wjh Penninx, Alexandre C Pereira, Patricia A Peyser, Bruce M Psaty, Jerome I Rotter, Xueling Sim, Kari E North, Dabeeru C Rao, Laura Bierut, Clint L Miller, Alanna C Morrison, Charles N Rotimi, Myriam Fornage, Ervin R Fox

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Serum lipid levels, which are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, are key determinants of cardiometabolic health and are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Improving our understanding of their underlying biological mechanisms can have important public health and therapeutic implications. Although psychosocial factors, including depression, anxiety, and perceived social support, are associated with serum lipid levels, it is unknown if they modify the effect of genetic loci that influence lipids. We conducted a genome-wide gene-by-psychosocial factor interaction (G×Psy) study in up to 133,157 individuals to evaluate if G×Psy influences serum lipid levels. We conducted a two-stage meta-analysis …

Elucidating Brain Transport Pathways And Cell Type-Dependent Gene Silencing Of A Durable Lipid-Sirna Conjugate Administered Into Cerebrospinal Fluid, Alexander G Sorets, Kathleen M Schoch, Timothy M Miller, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The clinical neurosciences are in the midst of a renaissance spurred by the development of new therapeutic modalities. Short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), in particular, are gaining interest for treating neurological diseases owing to their capacity to sustain inhibition of nearly any gene target. However, to be effective, siRNA therapies must achieve delivery and on-target gene silencing activity in specific sites and cells in the brain. To this end, we developed a lipid-siRNA conjugate (L2-siRNA) that transports effectively throughout the brain when injected into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We provide a detailed examination of regional bulk tissue gene silencing in mice, highlighting …

Topical Lifitegrast Therapy For Dry Eye Disease, Lama Assi, Salim C. Lutfallah, Tsz Wing Yim, Su Hsun Liu, Sharon J. Duffy, Jayne Weiss

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Objectives: This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows:. To assess the effectiveness and safety of topical lifitegrast therapy alone or in combination with artificial tears, compared with a placebo, artificial tears alone, or no treatment for dry eye disease.

Location-Based Work Sampling: Application And Evaluation For Workflow Issue Identification, Tobias Fiirgaard, Malik Namage, Cristina Toca Pérez

CIB Conferences

This study explores the application of Location-Based Work Sampling (LBWS) to enhance construction site management, focusing on workflow issue identification. For that, a Case Study was conducted on a new construction project in Herning, Denmark. The authors applied the LBWS tool to identify the distribution of working time of seven trades. The Case Study presented a structured five-step methodology: (1) understanding, (2) adaptation, (3) application, (4) analysis, and (5) evaluation. During the adoption step, the “Ajour system” app was selected as the optimal software based on the technique “Chosen By Advantages”. At the application step, the authors registered 2,800 random …

Practices And Challenges In Measuring And Monitoring Construction Productivity, Laura Gutierrez-Bucheli Dr., C Savindi Ranthika Perera Dr, Duncan Maxwell A/Prof, Rachel Couper Dr.

CIB Conferences

Construction productivity has been the focus of extensive analysis and study, with many attempts made to measure and monitor it. However, there is still significant ambiguity surrounding its definition, and there is little agreement on the most effective measurement approach. This systematic review investigates how productivity has been conceptualised and measured in construction research. The review has focused on exploring research foci and key features of the frameworks, including productivity definition, level of analysis, and measurement approach. Findings reveal current productivity measurement in construction research often focuses narrowly on specific tasks and short-term metrics, hindering the assessment of long-term impacts. …

The Role Of Smart Homes In The Journey Towards Net-Zero : A Review, Samira Awwal, Patricia Tzortzopoulos Prof., Rakesh Mishra Prof., Leigh Fleming Dr., Mohammad Ruhail Gulzar

CIB Conferences

Achieving net-zero requires an integrated approach to energy efficiency throughout a building’s life cycle. Energy consumption can be optimised and carbon emissions can be reduced when utilising smart technologies. This paper explores the role of smart home technology in achieving net-zero home goals, by synthesising existing literature on smart energy, user behaviour, and sustainable building strategies. A rapid evidence review is conducted to identify technologies that support net-zero through smart home systems. Key findings indicate that while smart homes can significantly contribute to reducing energy consumption and carbon footprints, challenges such as limited public awareness, data privacy concerns and policy …

Reduce Energy Consumption Through Digital Twin: A Literature Review, Buddhika Priyankara Arsecularatne, Navodana Rodrigo Dr., Ruidong Chang Dr.

CIB Conferences

The construction industry (CI) is confronted with a critical challenge: the promotion of digital transformation through digital twin (DT) technology, while simultaneously reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions within the built environment (BE). Given the substantial influence of buildings on global emissions, it is imperative to implement energy-efficient solutions. DT technology has emerged as a transformative instrument for the monitoring and optimising building energy use, particularly when it is incorporated with automated building management systems. This integration enables precise energy regulation, real-time insights, and substantial energy savings. This study conducted a systematic literature review of 60 articles from 2020 to …

Exploring Fire Safety Challenges On Construction Sites: Insights From Stakeholders, Kexin Liu, Gaang Lee, Max Kinateder, Vicente A. González

CIB Conferences

Construction sites face significant fire safety challenges due to flammable materials, hot work, a dynamic environment, and large workforces. Despite efforts to improve construction safety, fire incidents continue to pose a significant risk to construction workers, properties, and surrounding buildings. This paper aims to identify and prioritize current construction fire safety challenges and further guide future research directions. A structured hybrid workshop was conducted to gather insights from relevant stakeholders across industry, health and safety organizations, and standards organizations. Prior to the workshop, challenges were identified through literature and an online survey completed by participants. In the first part of …

Comparison Of Ageing-Friendly Supporting Facilities Between Self-Financed And Government-Subsidized Residential Care Homes: Evidence From China, Yueran Li, Mei-Yung Leung

CIB Conferences

Ageing-friendly supporting facilities are commonly implemented in residential care homes for older people. These facilities not only support the daily activities of older people but also affect their physical and psychological health. However, the development of ageing-friendly supporting facilities usually varies among homes due to differences in construction and operational funding. In order to better accommodate older residents, it is essential to compare the ageing-friendly supporting facilities across different residential care homes and identify the key variances. A total of 69 samples were collected from two primary categories of residential care homes in China, namely self-financed homes and government-subsidized homes. …

Improving User Experience Through Bedroom Lighting Services For Older People Living In Personal Houses, Mei-Yung Leung, Yueran Li

CIB Conferences

The global ageing tendency underscores the necessity for indoor building services to accommodate the needs of older adults. Bedroom lighting services encompass both natural and electric lighting as well as supporting facilities such as light control, shading devices, and anti-reflection finishes. It facilitates visual interactions between occupants and their living environment. The user experience of older people reflects the extent to which current bedroom lighting services address their needs, which significantly influences their well-being in later years. Key aspects valued by older users can be divided into the sufficiency of task lighting, evenness during movement, navigation in the room, convenience, …

Genai For Building Energy Efficiency, Linyan Chen, Amos Darko Dr, Albert P.C. Chan, Fan Zhang

CIB Conferences

The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an urgent call for action by nearly every industry. The buildings sector has made significant efforts toward the SDGs by enhancing energy efficiency. The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technologies, such as advanced algorithms and models, has brought new possibilities for further enhancing energy efficiency in buildings. However, the potential of GenAI in this domain has not yet been fully explored. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the current applications of GenAI in enhancing building energy efficiency. A total of 34 studies were identified from the Scopus and arXiv …

Designing And Prototyping A Smart Upper-Limb Exoskeleton For Enhancing Wellbeing And Productivity In Construction, Alireza Moghayedi, Carlos Cifuentes, Marcela Munera, Mohammadhadi Sarajchi

CIB Conferences

The construction industry is plagued by high rates of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), workplace injuries, and low worker productivity, necessitating innovative solutions to enhance worker safety, health, and efficiency. This study presents the design and prototyping of, a wearable upper-limb exoskeleton (EXOCON) tailored for construction tasks, particularly heavy lifting. The exoskeleton integrates advanced technologies, including ergonomic and biomechanical engineering, multimodal sensory systems, and a hierarchical control architecture, to provide active assistance while minimizing physical strain on workers. Anthropometric and 3D body scanning techniques were employed to customize the design for diverse body sizes and genders, ensuring user inclusivity and comfort. EXOCON’s …

A New Approach To Sustainable Healthcare Facility Management: The Case Of Türkiye, Sinan Terzioglu, Sarel Lavy, Orhan Koç

CIB Conferences

Types of healthcare facilities (HF) range from simple medical clinics to large integrated hospitals. Today, HF are expected to fulfill their service responsibilities in an uninterrupted and continuous manner in an environment of constantly developing medical treatment services, support services, maintenance and repair activities, and changing laws, codes, requirements, and standards related to the health and safety of patients, staff, and visitors. A major change in the provision of healthcare services was initiated in Türkiye in 2003, where healthcare delivery models in other developed countries were taken as examples. As a result of these changes, new integrated HF began to …

Health And Safety Perceptions Of Construction Workers In Denmark, Cristina Toca Pérez, Malik Namage, Lorenzo Loyola, Melisa Ergul, Stephanie T. Salling

CIB Conferences

Construction is among the most hazardous industries, with risk factors existing on multiple levels, ranging from individual to organizational issues. Ensuring a healthy and safe workplace is crucial for worker performance and job satisfaction and is also highlighted in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. This study involved a national survey among construction workers in Denmark conducted in 2023. The study aimed to address two primary research questions: 1) the number of years of industry experience and 2) the size of projects influence workers' perceptions of Health and Safety (H&S). The research design involved six steps: 1. Theoretical framework, 2. …

Developing Amenities To Create More Sustainable And Inclusive Human Settlements, Jeremy Thobo Gibberd Dr

CIB Conferences

Sustainable human settlements are the totality of any organised human community whether a city, town or village. This includes amenities such as parks, sports facilities, libraries, schools and clinics. Rapid urbanisation and a lack of resources in many developing countries, such as South Africa, mean that some human settlements may not have these amenities. A lack of amenities in human settlements affects the quality of life and hampers the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those for health (SDG3), education (SDG4), inequality (SDG10), and sustainable cities (SDG11). In South Africa, a lack of amenities in human settlements also affects …

Socio-Sustainable Architectural Design Through Ethical Implementation Of Generative Design And Artificial Intelligence, Yael Netser, Erica Cochran Hameen, Pingbo Tang

CIB Conferences

The design and valuation of buildings require a weighted assessment of many qualitative and quantitative values; the evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can potentially enhance this process and the built environment. However, preserving the ethics and social sustainability of architectural design is crucial. Generative Design (GD) can potentially add value to new buildings and improve functionality and sustainability by generating design while weighing many quantitative measures effectively (e.g., functionality, economy, energy performance etc.). Generative AI (GAI) can potentially generate and assess designs based on learning from large sets of quantitative and qualitative data. However, underlying qualitative social, cultural, and ethical …

Addressing Urban Blight For Cities Under Uncertain Conditions, Analysis Within Un Sdg 11, Qadri H. Shaheen, Sameer Abu-Eisheh, Hafez Shaheen, George Berghorn

CIB Conferences

Background: Urban blight, the deterioration of previously developed urban areas, manifests through physical decay and social neglect, posing challenges to sustainability. This study examines urban blight within the framework of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11), which aims to create inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities, with a focus on Nablus, Palestine, under uncertain socio-political conditions.

Objective: We seek to analyze blight’s impact on the built environment and propose solutions aligned with SDG 11, emphasizing resilience and inclusivity in cities facing prolonged uncertainty.

Methodology: Through a case study of Nablus, we analyze blight characteristics using spatial mapping, statistical …