Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Of Bryozoans On The Psii Efficiency Of Sargassum, Maxwell Ronan Stanfield

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Sargassum species such as s. fluitans and s. natans support epiphytic organisms on its surface, such as diatoms, hydrozoans, and encrusting bryozoans. Evidence previous studies suggests that marine epiphytic organisms have a negative effect on the photosynthetic pathways of the algae they live on (Khan, Du, Khan, Che, and Khurshid 2021; Cancino, Mufioz, Mufioz, and Orellana 1987). Interestingly, some evidence shows that even when epiphytic encrusting bryozoans limit the light reaching red algae, the algae was able to produce more photosynthetic pigments to compensate for the lowered light intensity (Muñoz, Cancino, and Molina 1991). No data is currently available on …

A Continuous Viral Vaccine Biomanufacturing Platform Utilizing Multiple Bioreactor Configurations, Justin Sargunas, Bradley Priem, Dylan Carman, Taravat Sarvari, Natalie Nold, Vaishali Sharma, Andrew Pekosz, Caryn Heldt, Michael Betenbaugh

Michigan Tech Publications

Scalable, continuous biomanufacturing processes have grown in importance to meet demand for smaller bioreactor sizes, lowered production costs, and improved quality attribute consistency. The Sf9/recombinant baculovirus (rBV) expression system demonstrates promise for virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine and gene therapy production. Here, we present a continuous rBV platform integrating an infection plug flow reactor (PFR) between stirred tank growth (gCSTR) and production (pCSTR) bioreactors. Cell expansion in the gCSTR included a ramp-up stage followed by continuous growth, reaching a steady state of 5×10 cells/mL and >90% viability. Péclet number-fit tracer studies confirmed near-ideal plug flow in the PFR, yielding a 10 …

Virtual Reality Rehabilitation And Visual Recognition Recovery After Stroke, Ivy Westfall, Brandy Whitford

Student Publications and Presentations

Every year, many stroke survivors experience challenges that go beyond movement. In addition to physical weakness, changes in thinking and vision can last long after the stroke. Most rehabilitation programs focus first on balance and motor skills. As a result, problems with visual recognition and interpretation can go unnoticed. When the temporal lobe is damaged, a person may not be able to recognize familiar faces, everyday objects, or even well-known places, even when they can see. Virtual reality (VR) has become a growing tool in stroke recovery. By immersing patients in interactive, goal-directed visual environments, VR may engage neuroplastic mechanisms …

Public Perception Of Equine Rabies And Its Implications For Future Education And Preventative Strategies, Kya Walton

Honors College Theses

This study examined the rabies knowledge, vaccination, and risks of exposures of horse owners/overseers across the state of Kentucky. Research was conducted to determine the need for public health educators and veterinarians to inform the public on rabies. Survey results concluded that respondents' general knowledge of rabies transmission and mortality rate was respectable, but knowledge relating to equine vaccination was comparatively lower. A weak inverse relationship was observed between general rabies knowledge and concern over an individual’s horses contracting rabies. A weak positive correlation was determined when looking into general rabies knowledge and the likelihood of vaccinating an individual’s horses. …

Pepper Spray Exposure And The Effect On Dna Profiling Of Blood, Brandon Schmakel

Honors Projects

Pepper spray is a common self defense tool used in both law enforcement and civilian settings, with the goal of incapacitating the sprayed individual. In real casework where pepper spray was used, a red-brown stain which tested positive presumptively for blood provided no DNA profile after further testing six months later. A previous graduate student, Emma Crawn, attempted to emulate these casework conditions and instead achieved a DNA profile with slight indications of inhibition or degradation. Further analysis of active pepper spray ingredients such as Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) and Chloroacetophenone (CN) reveals that there are observed reactions, such as oxidation, …

Examination Of Celebrity And Influencer Endorsements, Mackenzie Molnar

Honors Projects

This study examines the effects of celebrity and influencer endorsements on consumer attitudes and purchase intentions. A digital survey was distributed through Prolific to 210 U.S. participants ages 18–24. Participants viewed fictional advertisements featuring either a celebrity or an influencer endorsing a product and then rated each endorsement on familiarity, relatability, authenticity, believability, and likelihood of purchase. Results showed that endorsement type alone did not significantly affect believability, indicating that celebrities and influencers can be similarly effective in marketing. However, gender, media usage, and relatability significantly influenced consumer responses. Female participants responded more positively to influencer endorsements, while higher relatability …

How Pollinator Populations Can Impact Chronic Disease Risk, Kylee Cubbison

Honors Projects

This project investigates how pollinator populations can impact chronic disease risk. Pollinator populations are declining, which can have serious implications for human health. Declining pollinator populations can limit healthy food production and affordability. Poor nutrition is a major risk factor for most chronic diseases. Less healthy food available for people to consume can negatively impact diets and increase the risk of developing chronic diseases. This project aims to address a potential gap in research existing on this specific topic regarding pollinator populations and human chronic disease risk. A brochure targeted towards educating the general public on this topic was created …

Politics, Profit, And Programming: Examining The Distinct Effects Of Artificial Intelligence In The Corporate And Political World, Grant Lotts

Honors Projects

How has AI diffusion impacted the power and success of existing countries and corporations? This paper analyzes how these entities have invested their resources into expanding their AI presence, and how it has affected their role in their established spheres. For countries, it is examined how the amount of AI publications they create affects their means of using power, along with how efficient their governments have become. For corporations, it is examined how their capital expenditures (of which AI is becoming increasingly tied to) affects their stock price and annual revenue. Conflicting results are found. Countries tend to exhibit behavior …

Narrative Traditions In Francophone Africa And The Caribbean, Elizabeth Kill

Honors Projects

This research paper explores the cultural significance and the roles of folktales in francophone countries in Africa and the Caribbean. By analyzing recurring themes and character types in folktales, this study argues the importance of storytelling and traditional folklore in the shaping of a culture. Through close reading of a selection of folktales from a variety of francophone countries in Africa and the Caribbean, the research highlights themes of wisdom, greed, and explanations of the natural world, among others. Additionally, this paper touches on the historical importance of storytelling in cultures around the world. The research draws on information from …

The True Interstellar Anisotropy Of 13 Tev Cosmic Rays, Matthew Conde

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Student Publications

Cosmic rays (CRs) are high-energy particles; bare atomic nuclei, with varying origins and energy levels. Research in this field is focused on identifying potential origins, understanding transport mechanisms faced on their journey to Earth, and interpreting the angular structure of incident CRs. One obstacle of this research is the trajectory modulation induced by the heliosphere during the CRs’ journey. In this work we employ a method to reconstruct the properties of CRs as they were at the local interstellar medium (LISM) by means of a nonlinear model fit to the map at Earth. Another obstacle is the time-averaging used to …

Exploring Possible Formation Mechanisms For Nh4sh Clouds On Jupiter, Morgan Rietmann

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Student Publications

Even after decades of research, much of Jupiter’s atmosphere is poorly understood. Recently, interest in a 2-3 bar cloud deck generated by a new ammonia mapping technique has exposed the very flimsy nature of the assumption that these clouds are made primarily of ammonium hydrosulfide (NH₄SH). While there is evidence to support the existence of NH₄SH at this level, its formation reaction and the interaction between this reaction and its environment has been lacking proper study. With closer inspection, the abundance of NH₃ in the atmosphere lends itself to the possible additional formation of ammonium …

From Bench To Bedside: Unraveling The Role Of Sarm1 In Chronic Human Neurodegenerative Disease, Caitlin Dingwall

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Axon degeneration (AxD) is an early and often causative event in many neurodegenerative diseases, yet no treatments exist to halt the breakdown of axons. In healthy axons, the axon survival factor NMNAT2 inhibits SARM1, the central executioner of programmed axon degeneration. NMNAT2 is a highly labile protein produced in the soma and trafficked into the axon. Nerve injury blocks axonal transport and leads to rapid depletion of axonal NMNAT2, causing NMN buildup and NAD+ loss. Recent breakthroughs led to the discovery that SARM1 is activated by an increase in the NMN to NAD+ ratio. While the SARM1 axon degeneration pathway …

Quantitative Microstructural Analysis With Applications To Planetary Lithosphere Deformation, Katherine Josephine Billings

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

On Earth, plate motion is accommodated by localized zones of weakness, comprised of brittle faults near the surface and ductile shear zones at depth. Interactions between microstructure and deformation mechanisms control bulk rock strength. The intermixing of mineral phases and a transition to grain size sensitive creep is thought to be an essential mechanism for creating long lasting weakness in the lithosphere. Chapter Two explores how microstructures evolve in experimentally deformed Maryland diabase. Microstructure evolves significantly with strain from an igneous texture characterized by large grains and large domains to a fine grained, narrowly banded microstructure. This reduction in grain …

Linguistic Dual Hesitant Hypersoft Set And Their Application With Decision Making In Medical Diagnosis And Treatment, B. Sathiyapriya, V. Pankajam

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study presents Linguistic Dual Hesitant Hypersoft Set (LDHHS) for Analysing Medical Diagnose. In LDHHS, linguistic terms are combined with Dual Hesitant logic to handle uncertainty and vagueness in Decision-Making. The Hypersoft Set extend traditional soft sets by handling multi-attributes and interdependent parameters in Decision-Making. In the context of LDHHS can be used to categorize and assess different aspects of Aggregation and using Decision-Making in Medical Diagnose. In this study the development of this framework, its application and its potential impact using a Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) case study to illustrate its effectiveness.

Advancing Neutrosophic Topology Through Gamma Generalized Alpha Closed Sets, B. Kalaiselvi, K. Sivakumar, S. Chandrasekar, P. Kalarani, A. Kesavan

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This paper introduces a new class of Neutrosophic closed sets, termed Neutrosophic γ-generalized α-closed sets (Ne.(γGα)CS), together with their corresponding open sets (Ne.(γGα)OS), within the framework of Neutrosophic Topological Spaces (NTS). The study is motivated by limitations in existing classes of Neutrosophic closed sets, including α-closed, semi-closed, and γ-closed sets, which often lack sufficient flexibility for modeling hybrid structures characterized by partial membership, indeterminacy, and uncertainty. To overcome these limitations, the proposed Ne.(γGα)CS are defined using β-closure operators and α-open supersets, providing a more comprehensive framework that extends and unifies several previously established concepts. The properties of these sets are …

Neutrosophic Hyper Ku-Ideals, Ramesh D. Kumar, M. Vasu

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This paper introduces the concepts of neutrosophic hyper KU-ideals, including strong, weak, and strong-weak neutrosophic hyper KU-ideals, as well as reflexive neutrosophic hyper KU-ideals within the framework of hyper KU-algebras. Fundamental properties of these structures and the relationships among them are investigated in detail. Special attention is given to the study of neutrosophic weak hyper KU-ideals and the conditions under which a neutrosophic set qualifies as a neutrosophic strong hyper KU-ideal (NSHKUI) or a reflexive neutrosophic hyper KU-ideal. The paper further establishes necessary conditions for a neutrosophic weak hyper KU-ideal (NWHKUI) to become a neutrosophic strong-weak hyper KU-ideal (NsWHKUI), as …

Neutrosophic Πgγ* Closed Sets In Neutrosophic Topological Spaces, K. Sakthivel, A. Gomathi

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This paper introduces and investigate the notion of Neutrosophic πgγ* closed sets within the framework of Neutrosophic topological spaces. The study begins defining Neutrosophic πgγ* closed sets and proceeds to investigate their fundamental properties and characterizations. Special attention is given to examining how these sets interrelate with and extend existing classes of Neutrosophic closed sets. By establishing inclusion relations and comparative hierarchies, the paper highlights the significance of Neutrosophic πgγ* closed sets in broadening the structural understanding of Neutrosophic topologies. Furthermore, several illustrative examples are provided to demonstrate the distinctive features of these sets and to clarify their role in …

Neutrosophic Quadruple Metric Spaces And Neutrosophic Quadruple Normed Spaces, Memet Şahin, Arif Sarıoğlan, Amanzholova Alina Bolatkyzy

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study establishes fundamental results in the emerging domains of neutrosophic quadruple metric spaces and neutrosophic quadruple normed spaces. Building upon the recent definition of neutrosophic quadruple metric spaces, the first primary contribution is the development of fixed-point theory within this generalized framework. Specifically, we formulate and rigorously prove an analogue of the Banach contraction principle tailored for neutrosophic quadruple metric spaces. Furthermore, we establish additional fixed-point theorems applicable in this context, extending foundational results from classical metric spaces and simpler neutrosophic structures to handle the increased complexity and uncertainty modeled by quadruple-valued neutrosophic sets. The second major contribution involves …

Role Of Clans In The Proximities Of Neutrosophic Sets, R. Subasree, K. Basari Kodi, Giorgio Nordo, K. Subramanian, N. Nagamani

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

In this study, the terms filters, grills, clans, and proximities of neutrophic sets are defined. Further some of its properties are investigated and the results are provided.

Nonagonal Neutrosophic Number: Analytical Aspects And Its Role In Optimization Technique For Transportation Problem, B. Sincy, V. M. Riya

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Neutrosophic numbers have received increasing attention from researchers and industrialists to address the indeterminacy and uncertainty inherent in real-life decision-making. This study aims to solve the transportation problem where supply, demand and transportation costs are Nonagonal Neutrosophic Numbers (NNNs). In the existing literature, various methods have been introduced to solve transportation problems (TPs) involving neutrosophic parameters. The application of Nonagonal Neutrosophic Numbers to transportation problems is a relatively recent development. NNNs offer a more detailed and adaptable representation of uncertainty by utilizing a nine-parameter structure that captures the degrees of truth, indeterminacy, and falsity. Therefore, in this paper, we solve …

Integral Type Contractive Condition In E-Chainable Neutrosophic Metric Space And Common Fixed Point Theorem, Rajesh Kumar Saini, Mukesh Kushwaha, Moh. Kasim

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Nonlinear Optimization, Game theory, economics and study of differential equations are just a few of the many domains in which fixed point theory (FPT) is essential. It is possible to construct new forms of infinite products by using continuous triangular norms (TN) and continuous triangular co-norms (TC). Banach contraction principal has been established in the context of neutrosophic metric space (NMS) within the framework through the use of these newly define infinite products. We introduced integral type contractive condition in -chainable NMS and establishes a common fixed point theorems (CFPTs) in the current work. The result acquired in this study …

Operations On Pythagorean Neutrosophic Fuzzy Matrix, V. Surya, Sophia R. Porchelvi

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This article discusses various unique varieties of Pythagorean neutrosophic fuzzy matrices (PNFM). Some fundamental operations such as addition, multiplication, union, intersection, complement, and exponen tial are discussed. This work introduces algebraic operations on PNFM and demonstrates some of its associated theorems, including distributive, commutative, and associative. The purpose of these investigations is to con tribute to a better understanding of PNFM and its use in real-world uncertainty.

The Α-Discounting (Α-Dmcdm) As An Extension Of Ahp, Topsis, Vikor, Promethee, And Weighted Sum, Florentin Smarandache

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This paper presents a comprehensive study of the α-Discounting Multi-Criteria Decision Making (α-D MCDM) method, an extension of the classical Multi-Criteria Decision Making framework designed to address inconsistencies and complex preference structures in decision analysis. Traditional methods such as the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and related MCDM techniques perform effectively when decision makers provide consistent pairwise comparisons; however, real-world decision problems frequently involve inconsistent, n-wise, interval-valued, or non-linear preference relations that exceed the capabilities of classical approaches. The proposed α-D MCDM method introduces a global discounting parameter α, which transforms inconsistent systems of preference equations into solvable algebraic models while …

Neutrosophic Sets And Systems, Vol. 98, 2026, Florentin Smarandache, Muhammad Abdel-Baset, Maikel Leyva-Vázquez

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This edition of “Neutrosophic Sets and Systems” presents a diverse collection of studies that contribute to the theoretical development and practical application of neutrosophic, fuzzy, hypersoft, and generalized algebraic systems in complex decision-making and information analysis environments. The published works explore innovative mathematical structures, including generalized neutrosophic topological spaces, neutrosophic algebraic systems, hypersoft and dual hesitant frameworks, multi-valued and n-fold algebraic models, and advanced decision-making methodologies designed to address indeterminacy, inconsistency, vagueness, and multidimensional uncertainty. Several contributions introduce new classes of neutrosophic closed sets, contra continuous mappings, and generalized algebraic operators, extending existing theories in topology, algebra, and set theory. …

High Performance Ae-Cnn Model Enhanced Via Gaussian Augmentation For Rssi-Dependent Indoor Positioning In Wireless Sensor Networks, Kahlaa K. Al-Nassrawy, Ghaidaa A Al-Sultany

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Precise indoor positioning system remains a significant challenge within Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) due to the instability and noise sensitivity of Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) data. This paper proposes an advanced hybrid deep learning framework designed for 2D indoor localization, utilizing RSSI measurements to predict human or object position. Furthermore, to enhance the robustness of the model against signal variance and promote its generalization capability under this uncertainty, a data augmentation strategy is applied using three methods: Gaussian Noise Injection (GNI), Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM), and Bayesian Gaussian Mixture Model (BGMM). The purpose of data augmentation is to simulate …

Critical Perspectives On Refugee And Migrant Integration In Education: Grassroots Narratives From Multiregional Settings, Karen Paul

International Journal of Human Rights Education

In Critical Perspectives on Refugee and Migrant Integration in Education: Grassroots Narratives from Multiregional Settings, edited by Marcus Otto and Tania Saeed (2025), integration is not treated as a neutral educational goal but as a contested, politically loaded term shaped by displacement, migration, and social division. Developed within the Peace and Human Rights Education series, through the Georg Arnhold Program, the volume brings scholars and practitioners into dialogue. The contributors include university-based researchers, educator-scholars, and practice-based professionals working in education and related fields. Together, they explore how education operates simultaneously as a space of possibility and exclusion. Rather than …

Pushing The Boundaries Of Human Rights Education: Concepts, Challenges And Contexts, Gabriela Rojas-Martinez

International Journal of Human Rights Education

Pushing the Boundaries of Human Rights Education is an edited collection of chapters that seeks to challenge conventional approaches to human rights education (HRE). The volume argues that teaching human rights as neutral, universal, or primarily legal concepts is insufficient given contemporary global realities, including widening inequality, climate crisis, and enduring colonial power relations. The editors and contributors, who work at the intersections of HRE, global citizenship education (GCE), and participatory education, collectively push beyond HRE as curriculum delivery toward a critically engaged, justice-oriented pedagogy grounded in lived realities. Across the collection, the authors contend that dominant HRE frameworks often …

The Politics Of Human Rights: The Quest For Dignity In The 21st Century, Martina Caretta

International Journal of Human Rights Education

Human rights are often presented as universal moral principles, yet their protection remains deeply uneven across political, social, and institutional contexts. This raises important questions: are human rights truly universal, or have they become utopian in practice? At their core, human rights can be understood as the minimum conditions required for a dignified human life. Since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, following the atrocities of World War II, the international community has expressed a shared commitment to a world free from hunger, violence, and oppression, and grounded in access to healthcare, education, and …

Black Panther Woman: The Political And Spiritual Life Of Ericka Huggins, Stacey C. Ault, Susan Roberta Katz

International Journal of Human Rights Education

As human rights educators from different generations and racial identities, we wanted to read and review Black Panther Woman about Ericka Huggins for different but equally powerful personal reasons. For Stacey, her best friend, Dr. Linda Garrett, was a Black Panther scholar, making her, as a Black  woman, interested in learning more about Ericka as a mother, comrade, and activist. For Susan, Ericka’s case in the 1970s profoundly impacted her political consciousness as a White college student and motivated her commitment to social justice activism. For all readers of the International Journal of Human Rights Education, we strongly recommend this …

Healing In Brave Spaces, Brian Arao, Michiko Kealoha, Jose Napoles

International Journal of Human Rights Education

This article explores the evolution of the "brave space" framework, moving beyond its original application in social justice education to purposefully integrate a human rights-based approach to healing and community repair. Amidst increasing global divisiveness and legislative volatility, the authors argue that access to community healing is an intrinsic human right and a critical state of mental and social well-being. By centering the concept of "transformative agency," the paper illustrates how educators and administrators can utilize brave space praxis to analyze systemic trauma, foster interconnectedness, and restore human dignity.

The authors draw upon personal narratives and professional experiences in higher …