Digital Commons Network^™

Quantifying Global Internal Displacement Risk At The Hazard-Vulnerability-Conflict Nexus, Wenzhao Li, Surendra Maharjan, Rejoice Thomas, Hesham Morgan, Ali Elgendy, Susan Mikhail, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

This study introduces a novel, diagnostic hazard-specific displacement risk index that integrates high-resolution hazard data with social vulnerability metrics and historical displacement records, uncovering overlooked compound risks in conflict areas and links between environmental stress and instability. Our methodology combines historical displacement records with environmental, demographic, and socioeconomic indicators to identify high-risk regions and quantify interactions between hazards and conflict across six major hazard types. Results reveal floods as the primary displacement driver, particularly in South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan) and Sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria, Ethiopia), where dense populations in flood-prone areas intersect with low socioeconomic resilience. Droughts disproportionately impact arid …

Dietary Inflammatory Index And Objective Disease Activity In Ibd: No Association Found, Rúbia Moresi Vianna De Oliveira, Ana Carolina Junqueira Vasques, Stefhani Andrioli Romero, Nitin Shivappa Mbbs, Mph, Ph.D., Michael David Wirth, James Hébert Scd, Glaucia Fernanda Soares Ruppert Reis, Cristiane Kibune Nagasako

Faculty Publications

Background

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) involves genetic and environmental factors, but the relationship between disease activity, adiposity, and diet remains unclear.

Objective

To investigate the association between endoscopic/radiological activity of IBD, body adiposity, and the Dietary Inflammatory Index with or without adjustment for energy density (E-DII or DII).

Method

An observational, cross-sectional study was carried out. Endoscopic activity was defined by an endoscopic Mayo score >2, Crohn’s Disease Endoscopic Index of Severity (CDEIS) > 5, and/or the presence of a deep ulcer in any intestinal segment. Body adiposity was estimated using the body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio (WHR). …

Students Launch Morris Maang, Communications And Marketing

Campus News Archive

No abstract provided.

Circulating Levels Of Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (Igf-I) And Risk Of Multiple Myeloma: An Observational And Mendelian Randomisation Study, Yolanda Benavente, Sara Hermosa, Nikos Papadimitriou, Alyssa I. Clay-Gilmour Ph.D., Elizabeth E. Brown, Jonathan N. Hofmann, Nathaniel Rothman, Qin Lan, Sonja I. Berndt, Demetrius Albanes, Mark Purdue, Mitchell J. Machiela, Stephen J. Chanock, Parveen Bhatti, Wendy Cozen, Aaron Norman, Susan L. Slager, James R. Cerhan, Vincent Rajkumar, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of Early Breast Cancer Response To Chemotherapy With Ultrasound Radiomics, Swapnil Dolui, Basak Dogan, Corinne Wessner, Jessica Porembka, Priscilla Machado, Bersu Ozcan, Nisha Unni, Maysa Abu-Khalaf, Flemming Forsberg, Kibo Nam, Kenneth Hoyt

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Objective: This prospective study investigated the use of H-scan ultrasound (US) imaging as a novel component of a multiparametric radiomic analysis framework for characterizing human breast cancer response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) before and early after treatment initiation. Methods: Thirty breast cancer patients scheduled for NAC were scanned using a clinical US system (Logiq E9, GE HealthCare) equipped with a 9L-D linear array transducer. Radiofrequency (RF) data was obtained at baseline (pre-NAC) and after 10% and 30% of the complete dose of chemotherapy. The RF data was analyzed by a bank of 256 frequency-shifted bandpass filters to form H-scan US …

2026 April 23 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

Colorimetric Detection Of Mercury (Ii) Ions Utilizing Bio-Colloidal Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized Via Microwave-Assisted Method With Matoa Leaf Extract, Ari Sulistyo Rini, Yolanda Rati, Gilar Adnan Ramadhan, Yan Soerbakti, Lazuardi Umar

Baghdad Science Journal

In this work, bio-colloidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using Matoa (Pometia pinnata) leaf extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent under microwave irradiation to promote rapid AgNPs formation. The influence of microwave irradiation powers (360, 540, and 720 W) on the optical, structural, and morphological properties of the synthesized AgNPs was systematically investigated. The AgNPs formation was characterized by yellowish-brown colloids formation with surface plasmon resonant (SPR) bands centered around 430 nm, as detected by UV-Vis spectroscopy. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of C-H and O-H functional groups from polyphenols and flavonoids in Ag⁺ ion reduction. …

Seasonal Variation And Spatial Distribution Of Heavy Metals In Groundwater: Implications For Water Quality And Health Risks, Muzhda Qasim Qader, Shevan Jamel Jirjees, Masoud H. Hameed, Chiyai Maroof Sharif

Baghdad Science Journal

Background: This study evaluated the seasonal and spatial distribution of twelve heavy metals in the groundwater samples collected in fifty wells with the aim of assessing the quality of water and health hazards associated with it. The data were analyzed to compare the wet and dry seasons were the analytical data using pollution indices, the Nemerow Pollution Index (NPI), and the Single-Factor Pollution Index (SFPI). The results revealed that the water quality was mainly excellent (NPI < 0.01) even though in some areas, lead, vanadium, and copper were contaminated. Arsenic (0.0008–0.0145 μg/L), chromium (0.0009–0.0096 μg/L), and nickel (

Influence Of Beryllium Substitution On Vibrational And Electronic Properties Of Carbon Nano-Cone: Density Functional Theory, Rajaa K. Mohammad, Hussein M. L., Ammar S. Hameed, Luma M. Ahmed, Shurooq Sabah Abed Al-Abbas

Baghdad Science Journal

Density Functional Theory (DFT) was employed to investigate the effects of beryllium (Be) substitution on the vibrational and electronic properties of a single-wall carbon nano-cone. The study aims to clarify how Be incorporation modifies the structural stability and electronic characteristics of this nanostructure. Electronic parameters including ionization potential (I), electron affinity (Eea), Fermi energy (Ef), HOMO–LUMO energies, total energy (E), and band gap (Eg) were calculated. Infrared (IR) spectra, optimized geometries, electrostatic potential maps, and electron density distributions were also analyzed. The results indicate that Be substitution reduces the ionization potential while increasing the electron affinity. Incorporation of Be atoms …

New Optimal Formulas To Conjugate Gradient Method For Image Noise Reduction, Basim A. Hassan, Mohammed W. Taha

Baghdad Science Journal

A key component of conjugate gradient (CG) algorithms is the directions used in the CG approach. Because of their low memory requirements, these directed methods have proven effective in various applications, especially image processing. For this study, we have developed a new conjugate gradient coefficient based on the well-known quadratic model, that will accelerate the convergence and increase the accuracy of the CG approach. Because the new method uses the second order curvature and provides improved direction. So, the global convergence and critical descent characteristics of the final algorithm provide reliable performance in a range of scenarios. The results of …

Housing Affordability Analysis Of Hillsborough County, Fl, Usa – Quantitative And Geographical Analysis Using Spatiotemporal Data, Bomin Koh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Housing affordability assessments rely on the 30 percent income method and generalized linear regression (GLR)-based hedonic price modeling. Both provide broad insights but fail to capture spatial heterogeneity in affordability challenges. This study upgrades housing affordability assessment approaches by incorporating the residual income method and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR). The primary objective of this study is to determine whether methodological improvements, residual income method and GWR, yield significantly different results and provide a more accurate and spatially adaptive understanding of affordability dynamics in Hillsborough County, Florida.

The 30 percent income method is widely used and classifies households as cost-burdened if …

An Age-Structured Model For The Effects Of Time Delay On The Dynamics Of Malaria In The Presence Of Temperature And Rainfall, Alanus Mapunda, Eunice Mureithi, Nyimvua Shaban

Tanzania Journal of Science

An age-structured model with a class of pregnant women that captures the impact of time-delay on the dynamics of malaria is established in this work. The main goal is to explore the transmission dynamics of malaria in natural setting which is comprised of pregnant women and other individuals. Some weather conditions are also considered in the model. The main importance is to investigate the evolution of various states involved in the transmission of malaria in the community. The model equilibria are analyzed to study their stability, and numerical solution of the system is presented and discussed. The result shows that …

How Do Water Utilities Meet Growing Demand And Maintain Resilience Through Water Reuse? A Systems Thinking Approach, Elizabeth F. Vicario

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Water and wastewater utility management is becoming increasingly complex due to factors like urbanization, climate change, new regulations, and rising costs. Utility leaders must balance competing political and financial pressures while managing aging infrastructure, rising demand, climate resilience planning, and customer concerns about affordability. Reuse of treated wastewater has emerged as a promising solution to address scarcity, declining source water quality, and new regulations on wastewater discharge in the United States. However, water reuse is not one-size-fits-all, and bespoke solutions are needed to optimize economic, environmental, and social returns from this finite resource. Despite growing interest, little is known about …

Making Sense Of The Body: Cognitive Science, Disability, And Embodiment, Cheyne L. Joslin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project is to analyze different methodological approaches in the philosophy of cognitive science, with the goal of determining their usefulness for explaining and understanding bodily awareness and skill-acquisition over time. The examples of skill-acquisition are limited to motor control, impaired by various kinds of disability—but then acquired over time, via technological or rehabilitative means. These phenomena of motor learning are then viewed through the lens of two competing theoretical approaches in cognitive science: neuromechanical cognitive science, and radical enactivist cognitive science.

The strengths of the neuromechanical framework are found in its historical pedigree, and in the …

Evaluation Of Antibacterial Activity For Aqueous Exteracted Combination Of Triphala And Aloe-Vera Against Streptoccocus Oralis: (In Vitro Study), Abbas Hussein Irrihaim, Maha Abdul-Aziz Ahmed

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: Streptoccocus Oralis is an early colonizer in dental biofilm and contributes to plaque formation and periodontal inflammation. The search for safe, natural antimicrobial alternatives has increased interest in herbal agents such as Triphala and Aloe vera. However, their combined activity against S. oralis has not been fully assessed alongside phytochemical profiling.

Aim: To evaluate the antibacterial activity of aqueous-extracted Triphala, Aloe vera, and their combination against S. oralis, including inhibition zone measurement, MIC, MBC, and HPLC characterization. Materials and Methods: Aloe vera gel and Triphala powder were extracted using aqueous extraction and freeze-drying. Antibacterial activity was assessed using …

Redesigning William Edmonson Homesite Park: Improving Community Wellbeing Through Nature-Based Solutions, Jonathan R. Loftis, Reese Cobb, Darlene Panvini

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The Edgehill neighborhood, North of Belmont University, is often overlooked by city designers and planners for revitalization and redesign efforts. The William Edmonson Homesite Park sits 0.5 miles from the university’s main campus and became the focal point of a redesign effort in Dr. Panvini’s Urban Ecology course. Classmates Ryder Loftis and Reese Cobb searched for an answer to the question, “Why are the community members of the Edgehill neighborhood not using the William Edmonson Park for more recreational activities, and what ecological improvements could be made to the park in order to make it more appealing to community members …

Advancing Environmental Justice Through Chemical Education: Perspective From New Orleans’ Water And Air Quality Challenges, Ja’Lynn Keller, Sita Aggarwal, Rami A. Al-Horani, Morewell Gasseller, Navneet Goyal

Faculty and Staff Publications

New Orleans, Louisiana, faces profound environmental vulnerabilities arising from the convergence of industrial pollution, urban runoff, and climate change–driven weather events. This paper examines systemic challenges affecting water and air quality in the region, with particular focus on low-income and marginalized communities disproportionately burdened by environmental degradation. Drawing on educational and community-based monitoring initiatives at Xavier University of Louisiana and Southeastern Louisiana University, we highlight the integration of student learning with real-time data collection of contaminants such as fecal coliforms, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina revealed significant fecal contamination in sediment layers, …

Analysis Of Novel Cannabis Products Labeled As Containing Thc-Jd, Kaelas R. Munger, Carlton C. B. Bone, Killian M. Anreise, Robert M. Strongin

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective:

THC-JD (tetrahydrocannabioctyl) is a semi-synthetic cannabinoid with an eight-carbon C3 side chain, present in only trace amounts in hemp, requiring synthesis for commercial use. It has been promoted as potentially 19 times more potent than delta-9-THC, consistent with enhanced CB1 receptor affinities for cannabinoids with 7-8 carbon C3 side chains. While one peer-reviewed report identified THC-JD (tetrahydrocannabioctyl) in Japanese online products, an anecdotal report from the U.S. suggests mislabeling. Method: To inform regulatory efforts and consumer awareness and to address these discrepancies, this study chemically analyzed five U.S. commercial cannabis vape products marketed as containing THC-JD. Results: Utilizing GC-MS …

South’In, Sa’Tin: Satin-Lined Caps To Counter Hair Thinning, Gian Dormido, Ethan Rafael F. Navarra, Franzin Esra R. Quintana, Sofia Angela M. Ordoña, Generie M. Manuel

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress Conference Proceedings

Founded in May 2024 to address scalp and hair health issues common among Gen Zs, South’In was organized by five De La Salle University SHS ABM students. The group conceptualized and crafted a bull cap brand that innovates traditional headwear through satin-lined caps. With an investment of ₱25,000.00, the venture initially earned ₱5,723.30 in net profit during its initial launch. Operating as a sole proprietorship with a functional structure, South’In offers its distinct fusion of satin’s hair and scalp benefits with everyday cap comfort, making it unique both in purpose and product. The cap design comes with three interchangeable fins …

Skitchi, Kristine Nicole Q. Vila, Julianne Danielle C. Briones Ms, Chester A. Del Rosario, Spyrus A. Garcia, Megan Samantha L. Te, Ma. Louise Gena Crisologo

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress Conference Proceedings

Skitchi is a bag business established in 2024 by five students from De La Salle University-Manila’s Accountancy, Business, and Management strand, namely Kristine Vila, Megan Te, Julianne Briones, Chester Del Rosario, and Spyrus Garcia. Operating under a sole proprietorship, the team shares a unified vision of promoting sustainability through practical, affordable, and stylish canvas bags with patches crafted from “katsa” or recycled sackcloth. In response to the growing issue of fabric waste, Skitchi sources leftover sackcloth from local stores in Marikina. The bags are produced in Bulacan, with patches sewn by Marikina seamstresses, demonstrating the company’s commitment to sustainable practices …

Bioluminescent Bacteria In Squid Ink (Photololigo Duvaucelii) As A Potential Water Pollution Indicator At Selected Areas In Dasmariñas, Cavite, Jessica Rae G. Siyang, Remien Grace Balidvid, Aleeva Alexa V. Carrascal, Alyssa Mae V. Libranza, Arisha Jianne R. Dias, Pauline L. Cueno

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress Conference Proceedings

Bioluminescent bacteria are light-emitting microorganisms that are commonly found among marine species. In this study, bioluminescent bacteria were isolated from squid samples and submerged in selected water samples from Ylang-Ylang River and Dasmariñas Zone I River in Dasmariñas, Cavite, to determine whether they can be a potential water pollution indicator based on its bioluminescence intensity. The squid ink extracted from 6 squid samples was streaked on marine agar plates and incubated for 24 hours. The microplates were filled with 0.75 μL bioluminescent bacteria and 0.75 μL of polluted water samples and sterile water per three rows, where the light intensities …

Assessing The Eutrophication Potential Of Manila Bay Using Landsat 8-Derived Ndvi And Ndwi Parameters, Sean Andre D. Calajate, Tristan Josef A. Tolentino, Francis Edric M. Robles, Maria Francesca I. Rojas, Angela Nicole S. Masongsong, John Ray Cordova Estrellado

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress Conference Proceedings

Eutrophication, characterized by the presence of excess aquatic nutrients, poses a detrimental environmental threat to Philippine water bodies such as Manila Bay, consequently degrading water quality and augmenting algal blooms that harm aquatic life. This may be caused by a variety of issues, such as urbanization and assorted nutrient overloading. Thus, monitoring of its susceptibility to eutrophication is a valuable step in mitigating its potential effects. This study utilized Landsat-8 derived satellite imagery of Manila Bay to analyze the eutrophication potential (EP) of the bay from January 2024 to December 2024 using the open-access QGIS software for processing. Two spectral …

Optimization Of Iron (Iii) Removal Using Mango (Mangifera Indica) Peel Activated Carbon Biosorbent With Varying Adsorbent Dosage, Contact Time, And Temperature, Enzo Damian Berosa Magbatoc, Janssen Cahayon Mendoza, Pierre Cyrus Austria Obando, Fiona Bianca Tabares Saulon, Shelah Alfaro

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress Conference Proceedings

Heavy metal contamination in natural water sources poses a significant threat to public health, aquatic ecosystems, and environmental safety in affected communities. This study explores the utilization of Mango Peel Activated Carbon (MPAC), derived from ripe mango (Mangifera indica) peels, as a biosorbent for removing Iron(III) from aqueous solution, which underwent a sequence of physical and chemical activation processes. This examined key parameters such as A: adsorbent dosage (0.025–0.1 g/L), B: contact time (15–35 minutes), and C: temperature (25–35 °C), in order to assess its potential as a sustainable clean water solution. A Box-Behnken Design under Response Surface Methodology (RSM) …

Critical Heavy Metal Contamination In The Tigris River, Baghdad: A Comprehensive Assessment Using The Metal Index (Mi), Talib Kamil Abed, Abass J. Kadhem, Muwafaq Hussein Al-Lami

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

One of the most important rivers in Iraq is the Tigris River, which serves as the primary source of drinking water and irrigation for agricultural purposes. In recent events, researchers have identified growing concerns about heavy metal contamination in the river. To decide the status of the Tigris River, the metal index (MI) was used in this study. To conduct this study, three locations were chosen along the river, and eight likely harmful heavy metals were examined: iron (Fe), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu). The results were worrying. The metal …

Aquifer Characteristics And Groundwater Flow Modeling For Sustainable Water Resources Development And Planning Using Modflow Software In India, Ravi Sharma

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

MODFLOW is one of the most commonly used numerical models for simulating groundwater flow. Its structured data design and compatibility with GIS tools make it suitable for groundwater assessment and planning. Groundwater forms an important part of the hydrological cycle and occurs within the pore spaces of sedimentary rocks or within fractures in hard rock terrains. Although its distribution beneath the surface is not always uniform or predictable, it is still considered one of the cleanest, most accessible, and quickly available freshwater sources. Numerical groundwater models help convert complex subsurface processes into simplified relationships that describe flow behavior. Even though …

How Does A Structured Pre-Operative Airway Assessment Influence Anesthesiologists' Prediction Of A Difficult Airway In Surgical Patients?, Anjana Palanisamy

Mentorship Program 2025-2026

No abstract provided.

Autoimmune Mechanisms In Giant Cell Arteritis And Their Role In Vascular Injury, Sivasurya Elango

Mentorship Program 2025-2026

No abstract provided.

Gnsi Decision Brief: The Three-Body Trap: The New Geometry Of Nuclear Deterrence, Seong-Hyon Lee

GNSI Decision Briefs

In the astrophysics of orbital mechanics, the “Two-Body Problem” – predicting the gravitational interaction between two objects, such as the Earth and the Moon – is mathematically solvable. The system is stable, the orbits are predictable, and the variables are calculable. However, if a third independent object of sufficient mass is introduced, the system becomes non-linear and highly unpredictable. As proven by mathematician Henri Poincaré in 1887, no single formula can solve for long-term stability in a three-body system. For eight decades, since the dawn of the nuclear age, global security operated on “Two-Body” physics. The United States and the …

Addressing The Problems Of Data Variations, Quality, And Scarcity In Training Deep Neural Networks, Jian Sun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The performance of deep neural networks (DNNs) is strongly influenced by the characteristics and quality of the underlying datasets. This Ph.D. dissertation addresses three pervasive data challenges-imbalance, quality degradation, and scarcity-that commonly hinder the effectiveness of DNNs in computer vision (CV) and natural language processing (NLP) applications.

Class imbalance remains one of the most frequent causes of degraded model generalization. While Focal Loss effectively mitigates inter-class imbalance by assigning higher weights to minority classes, it struggles with intra-class imbalance, particularly in video datasets where longer clips dominate feature representation. To address this, I implement and utilize …

Contribution Of G4 Structure To Alzheimer’S Disease And Tau Pathology, Lena Michaela Kallweit

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The occurrence of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is rapidly increasing as our global population ages. With the majority of therapeutic drugs in the last couple of decades failing clinical trials, new molecular targets are needed to combat the expected influx of new AD cases. AD pathogenesis is associated with abnormal protein aggregation, characterized in part by intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) in neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). RNA has been identified as a major non-proteinaceous component of NFTs and has been implicated as an active cofactor in tau aggregation and spread. Recent work has shown that aggregates from AD brains contain almost …