Digital Commons Network^™

Selecting For Lysis In A Temperate Phage Population, Haley Atkins

Dissertations

The ongoing evolutionary arms race between bacteria and bacteriophages (phages) is a prime example of Red Queen hypothesis, where continuous adaptation drives survival. This study focuses on Escherichia coli-infecting temperate phages, which dominate natural environments and contribute to bacterial resistance mechanisms. Despite their prevalence, temperate phages are less suited for phage therapy due to their lysogenic life cycle, where they integrate into bacterial genomes instead of lysing the host. In contrast, obligately lytic phages, which directly lyse bacterial cells, are ideal for therapeutic use but occur less frequently in nature. This research aims to select for lytic behavior in temperate …

What Makes A Teacher A Teacher: A Philosophical Approach Aligned With Plato, Sojung Kim Hinterkopf

Dissertations

This thesis investigates how contemporary U.S. educational accountability policies—namely No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and Race to the Top (RttT)—redefine the role of teachers through a compliance-oriented lens. Moving beyond logistical and emotional impacts, this study applies Plato’s Allegory of the Cave as a philosophical framework to uncover the intellectual and ethical constraints imposed on educators. Through qualitative document analysis of federal policy texts, three metaphorical themes—shackles, shadows, and enlightenment—emerged to represent how teachers are bound by data-driven mandates, compelled to perform surface-level success, and yet still retain the potential to guide students toward deeper intellectual engagement. The findings reveal …

“What’S Happening In The Gulf Of Maine?”: Middle School Students’ Engagement In Climate Science Through Data Visual Representation And Reflections, Grace Ocular

Dissertations

This study examined how middle school students engaged with science concepts while working with data visualizations during a field trip learning experience. Fifty-one teams of 2–4 students from 35 schools participating in the LabVenture program were video- and audio-recorded. Students completed two activities: one using a frequency table of marine species illustrating threats to Maine’s lobster population, and another using maps depicting changes in Gulf of Maine sea surface temperature. After each activity, students annotated the visualization, discussed their claims, and recorded short reflections. Transcripts were coded for science-related talk, and annotations and gestures were also analyzed. Findings indicate that …

Editor's Note, Marites Tiongco

DLSU Business & Economics Review

No abstract provided.

Episodes In Computing History - Salon Talk, George K. Thiruvathukal

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

This talk (first given in 2004) presents a concise overview of key developments in the history of computing. It begins with early methods of counting and recordkeeping, such as tally sticks and the Inca quipu. It then traces the evolution of numeric systems, including Roman and Hindu-Arabic notation, and the mathematical contributions of figures like Al-Khwarizmi. Mechanical computing devices such as the abacus, Napier’s bones, and the Pascaline are examined, along with the Jacquard loom and its use of punch cards.

The talk continues through the rise of electronic computing, highlighting milestones such as ENIAC, the work of Alan Turing, …

‘Like A 6-Year-Old Dropped On Mars Without Parents’: Faculty Members’ Intercultural Competence And Cultural Adaptation In The Uae, Mustafa Aydogan, Esra İzmir, Hana Shahin

All Works

This study examines the intercultural competence and sociocultural adaptation of international faculty members (IFMs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a highly multicultural educational setting. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study explores IFMs’ adaptation experiences and the impact of multicultural teaching training. Quantitative analysis of 167 IFMs revealed a significant relationship between intercultural competence and sociocultural adaptation, with training enhancing both. Participants from Muslim or Arab backgrounds adapted better, emphasizing the role of cultural familiarity with the host culture. Qualitative findings from 14 interviews identified five key themes: (a) UAE’s diverse environment, (b) cultural distance, (c) language and communication challenges, …

Integrated Qfd-Triz Optimization Method For Satellite Solar Array Design In Cost-Sensitive Environment, Hongyi Zhang, Liang Su

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

With the rapid evolution of commercial space markets in the new space era, satellite design philosophy is transitioning from "performance supremacy" toward "cost-effectiveness priority." This research concentrates on solar arrays, a critical component representing 15%-20% of satellite costs, addressing limitations in traditional design methodologies that inadequately coordinate user requirements and lack systematic frameworks for cost-performance collaborative optimization. We propose a solar array optimization methodology predicated on the integration of Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ). This methodology incorporates cost dimensions through an extended QFD matrix, employs TRIZ to resolve technical contradictions, and develops a …

Generalizing Classification Of Pilot Workload: Transfer Learning Versus A Jepa-Inspired Transformer Architecture, Naim Barnett, Shivani Nagrecha, Morgan Glover, Clayton Harper, Justin Wilson, James Maher, Eric C. Larson

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Within the context of learning, there poses difficulty when objectively measuring human performance. In this work, we investigate the evaluation of human performance via its relation to the individual's mental capacity by classification of cognitive load within the domain of aviation. By utilizing a mixed virtual and physical flight simulation environment in conjunction with biometric sensing, we create and evaluate the predictive capabilities of a Joint-Embedding Predictive Architecture (JEPA) and compare the architecture and results to traditional methods for transfer learning and domain adaptation. We find that our JEPA inspired architecture can achieve more than 70% accuracy of cognitive workload, …

Singapore’S Health Outcomes After Critical Illness In Kids: A Mixed-Methods Longitudinal Cohort Study To Explore Health Outcomes Of Children And Parents Six Months After Critical Illness, Pei Fen Poh

School of Nursing and Midwifery Theses

Background: Post-Intensive Care Syndrome in paediatrics (PICS-p) encompasses physical, cognitive, social, and emotional health impairments in children, as well as psychological challenges in parents, following PICU discharge. While PICS is well-studied in adults, research on its long-term effects in the paediatric population is limited, and the influence of ethnicity remains unexplored.Aim: The aim of this study was to explore and understand the long-term health outcomes and experiences of children and their parents during the first six months following discharge from the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and to examine the influence of ethnicity. Methods: The SHACK study was informed by …

Advances In Ocean Mapping And Nautical Cartography, Giuseppe Masetti, Ian Church, Anand Hiroji, Ove Andersen

Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping

The Special Issue of Geomatics on "Advances in Ocean Mapping and Nautical Cartography" addresses emerging methodologies, technologies, and applications in ocean mapping. This collection includes studies on the development of high-resolution seabed mapping techniques, innovative data processing for marine cartography, and advancements in hydrographic surveying. It highlights the importance of integrating geospatial data from sources such as remote sensing, autonomous underwater vehicles, and satellite-based observations. Additionally, articles discuss challenges and strategies for ensuring data accuracy and accessibility, reflecting a growing interest in sustainable marine resource management and navigation safety enhancements.

Unh/Noaa Joint Hydrographic Center 2025 Performance And Progress Report Executive Summary, Larry A. Mayer

Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping

No abstract provided.

Forming Of Economies Of Wellbeing Through Responsive Practice In Everyday Life, Julie Richardson

School of Art, Design and Architecture Theses

In recent years, most Western economies have increasingly focused on the narrow pursuit of economic growth with its unintended and undesirable impacts on the wellbeing of people and planet being well-documented. This has led to the growth in ‘alternative economics’ that addresses these critiques and proposes new economic models. However, alongside these critiques, there is another that questions the modern scientific approach underpinning economics, arguing that it overlooks the importance of lived experience, creating feelings of detachment in the economic practitioner as well as undermining the relevance and effectiveness of economics and policy making. The research develops a more responsive …

Visual Thinking Informed By Repetition: A Practice-Based Methodology, Julia Heurling

School of Art, Design and Architecture Theses

This artistic research proceeds from the idea that visual thinking is thinking about images through images. It explores how ideas are instigated, developed, and articulated exclusively through visual elements from a practice-based perspective. The use of repetition as a method of thinking is rooted in my previous practice as a pattern designer. I consider this a cognitive process based on the assumption that repetition is a tool for abstraction, as it changes one’s perspective from the particular to the general. Abstraction, in this context, becomes a method for processing information (i.e. to think visually).My artistic practice is engaged in combining …

Artist Designed Systems In Community Radio, Lucinda Guy

School of Art, Design and Architecture Theses

Skylark is a full-time licensed radio station, founded by the author of this thesis. Since 2020 it has broadcast a continuous and ever-changing sound installation, rejecting the conventional radio schedules of presenters, programmes, music tracks, adverts etc. Its content is drawn from contributors within Dartmoor National Park, and includes oral histories, music, poems, field recordings, archive material and fragments of bespoke music. Skylark is also a public service and research project that intends to offer an innovative way forward for community radio in the UK. Such stations are intended to respond to their locations, include multiple voices, and be not-for-profit. …

Educational Trouble In Paradise: Student Perception Of Teaching Behaviors And It's Relation To Intrinsic Motivation And Academic Achievement, David Mchale Davis

Dissertations and Theses

Grounded in self-determination theory, this study explored students’ perceptions of provision of choice, teacher feedback, and emotional support, and how these teaching behaviors relate to intrinsic motivation and academic achievement. This study is a cross-sectional survey design and has data from 197 public high school students in the Bahamas. Path analysis was used to evaluate a model in which the three teaching behaviors predicted intrinsic motivation, which in turn was hypothesized to mediate their effects on academic achievement, measured by GPA, math grade, and students’ perceived likelihood of graduating. Results supported the model, indicating that higher levels of perceived teacher …

Calcium Carbonate Microparticles As Acid Responsive Targeted Drug Delivery Carriers For Oral Diseases And Its Anti-Bacterial Activity, Hem Raj Joshi

Dissertations and Theses

Dental diseases are mostly caused by bacterial infections in the teeth, forming biofilms that release acids and decay the enamel of the teeth. More than half of the world's population were affected by oral diseases, including periodontitis (gum disease), dental caries (cavities), and oral cancer. Chlorhexidine (CHX) is the mostly used antimicrobial drug for dental diseases, but its overexposure to the healthy teeth causes many side effects, such as tooth staining, taste alteration, and many more. Taking advantage of the acidic environment of infected teeth, we designed a pH responsive targeted drug delivery system using calcium carbonate microparticles (CCMPs) as …

Convergence In Cancer: Integrative Multi-Modal Modeling For Pan-Cancer Drug Response Prediction, Jessica Zylla

Dissertations and Theses

Heterogeneity and rarity can make cancer difficult to study and treat. Cancer's heterogeneity, evident in tumor locations, tumor cell types, subtypes, and microbiota within the tumor microenvironment, complicates diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Research into the tumor microenvironment and its microbiota is an evolving area of oncology that may advance cancer drug-patient response. Cancer-omics signatures are crucial to drug response, yet there is no tool that physicians use as a gold standard. Research indicates that microbial presence can alter drug metabolism and immune response, affecting cancer-drug efficacy on a patient-specific basis. This work highlights the need for training readiness in transdisciplinary …

A Computational Approach To The Game Of Cycles, Jocelyn Garcia, Mike Janssen, Eliza Kautz

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

In Mathematics for Human Flourishing, Francis E. Su introduced The Game of Cycles, a game played on a finite simple planar graph. In game play, opponents alternate adding direction to the edges of the graph with the goal of creating a cycle or making the last legal move. Recent work has sought to determine winning strategies on certain classes of graphs. We introduce a tabular representation of a game state and provide a computer program that determines which player has a winning strategy on any legal game board. The program builds a directed graph of all possible game states, utilizing …

Graduate Catalog 2025-2026, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Graduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Afit Generative Ai Teaching Guidebook, Afit Faculty Learning Community, Mark G. Bateman, Brett J. Borghetti, Allen W. Dukes, Nicholas C. Francis, Mike Frick, Bobbie Oh, Kevin Patterson, Hiren J. Patel, Mark G. Reith, Erick S. Tyndall, Teresa M. Walton, Torrey J. Wagner, Timothy S. Wolfe, Jonathan Zemmer

AFIT Documents

AFIT is proud to highlight the Generative AI Teaching Guidebook, a resource designed to provide military educators with practical insights, strategies, and use cases for integrating Generative AI (Gen AI) into their teaching practices. Developed through a collaborative effort involving AFIT faculty across various departments within the Graduate School of Engineering and Management and the School of Systems and Logistics, this digital resource serves as a starting point for educators exploring how to leverage Gen AI in their classrooms. It offers accessible examples and best practices, ensuring utility for instructors of all technical backgrounds. The guidebook provides a comprehensive overview …

Afit Generative Ai Teaching Guidebook Synopsis, Afit Faculty Learning Community, Mark G. Bateman, Brett J. Borghetti, Allen W. Dukes, Nicholas C. Francis, Mike Frick, Bobbie Oh, Kevin Patterson, Hiren J. Patel, Mark G. Reith, Erick S. Tyndall, Teresa M. Walton, Torrey J. Wagner, Timothy S. Wolfe, Jonathan Zemmer

AFIT Documents

The main objective of this work was to bring together various perspectives on how to envision incorporating Gen AI capabilities into the learning environment and identify some best practices for their implementation. Any instructor who is interested in these capabilities but does not necessarily have a technical background can find pragmatic use of the examples provided. While the examples have a wide range of applicability, they are meant to serve as a starting point for educators to explore what would be beneficial to their educational environment, from traditional classroom settings to online continuing education courses.

A Comprehensive Exploration Of 6g Wireless Communication Technologies, Md Nurul Absar Siddiky, Muhammad Enayetur Rahman, Md. Shahriar Uzzal, H. M. Dipu Kabir

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

As the telecommunications landscape braces for the post-5G era, this paper embarks on delineating the foundational pillars and pioneering visions that define the trajectory toward 6G wireless communication systems. Recognizing the insatiable demand for higher data rates, enhanced connectivity, and broader network coverage, we unravel the evolution from the existing 5G infrastructure to the nascent 6G framework, setting the stage for transformative advancements anticipated in the 2030s. Our discourse navigates through the intricate architecture of 6G, highlighting the paradigm shifts toward superconvergence, non-IP-based networking protocols, and information-centric networks, all underpinned by a robust 360-degree cybersecurity and privacy-by-engineering design. Delving into …

Differentiating Opioid Use Disorder From Healthy Controls Via Ml Analysis Of Rs-Fmri Networks, Ahmed Temtam, Megan A. Witherow, Liangsuo Ma, M. Shibly Sadique, F. Gerard Moeller, C. Kenneth, Dianne Wright, Khan M. Iftekharuddin

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Objectives/Goals: This work aims to identify functional brain networks that differentiate opioid use disorder (OUD) subjects from healthy controls (HC) using machine learning (ML) analysis of resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI). We investigate the default mode network (DMN), salience network (SN), and executive control network (ECN), as well as demographic features. Methods/Study Population: This work uses high-resolution rs-fMRI data from a National Institute on Drug Abuse study (IRB #HM20023630) with 31 OUD and 45 HC subjects. We extract rs-fMRI blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) features from the DMN, SN, and ECN. The Boruta ML algorithm identifies statistically significant features and brain activity mapping …

Détermination De La Concentration Des Métaux Dans L'Air Par Icp-Ms Avec Prélèvement Effectué Sur Filtre Encapsulé Digérable : Solu-Sert, Sébastien Gagné, Luminita Damian, Saphos Vlavianos

Environnementales

No abstract provided.

Détermination De La Concentration Des Métaux De La Faction Inhalable Dans L'Air Par Icp-Ms Avec Prélèvement Effectué Sur Dis, Sébastien Gagné, Luminita Damian, Isabelle Madore

Environnementales

No abstract provided.

Ml Model To Better Identify Instances Of Bullying Faced By Members Of The Lgbtq+ Community, Arslan Bisharat

Master's Theses

Cyberbullying poses a significant threat to online communities, with the LGBTQ+ community facing disproportionately higher rates of harassment. While existing cyberbullying detection systems have made progress in identifying general instances of online harassment, they often fail to capture the nuanced and context-dependent nature of LGBTQ+-targeted bullying. This thesis presents a novel approach to this challenge by developing SpectrumNet, an LGBTQ+-centric transformer-based model for cyberbullying detection. Our research was conducted in two phases. In Phase 1, we evaluated the effectiveness of pre-trained transformer models (RoBERTa, BERT, and GPT-2) in identifying LGBTQ+-related cyberbullying. Building on these findings, Phase 2 introduced SpectrumNet which …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Open Banking In Poland: The Perspective Of Market Experts, Sylwia Ciechanowska

Studia i Materiały Wydział Zarządzania Uniwersytet Warszawski

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to present an in-depth analysis of the development of open banking in Poland based on interviews conducted with market experts representing financial institutions and regulatory authorities. The article identifies both the benefits and implementation barriers of open banking, with particular emphasis on the quality of APIs (application programming interfaces), system interoperability, and the impact of regulatory frameworks on service innovation and security.

Methodology: This qualitative study was conducted using structured interviews with market experts representing banks, fintech companies, regulatory authorities, and independent industry consultants. The selection of experts was purposive, with …

Exploring The Factors That Influence K-12 Teachers’ Use Of Open Educational Resources, Yu-Chun Kuo, Yu-Tung Kuo, Hungwei Tseng

Research, Publications & Creative Work

The features of open educational resources (OERs) have the potential of enhancing teaching effectiveness and student learning experiences in K-12 education. Encouraging K-12 teachers to use OERs requires an understanding of the factors that have an influence on teachers’ decisions to adopt or use OERs in their teaching. In this regard, this study explored the factors related to how teachers perceived their use of OERs, including the perceived ease of use of OERs, perceived usefulness of OERs, intention to adopt OERs, attitudes, OER self-efficacy, and so on. The relationships of several proposed factors were explored. The participants were teachers from …

The Impact Of International Baccalaureate (Ib) Courses: Experience And Outcome Differences For Full Ib Diploma Earners Vs. Non-Diploma Earners In An Urban School In The Us, Christopher Jennens, Nilufer Guler

Research, Publications & Creative Work

This study examines differences in educational experiences and outcomes for high school(HS) students who participated in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program and earned full diplomas compared to those who participated in the IB Diploma Program but did not earn the diploma. ACT scores, after-high school placement, and HS graduation rates of 256 participants were collected. 122 participants completed an online survey, and 12 participated in interviews. The results revealed that the educational outcomes and experiences for diploma and non-diploma earners were vastly similar. Diploma earners had significantly higher ACT scores, but their college entrance and other academic outcomes were …

Nutritional Management Of The Child With Chronic Kidney Disease And On Dialysis., Vanessa Shaw, Caroline Anderson, An Desloovere, Larry A. Greenbaum, Lyndsay Harshman, Christina L. Nelms, Pearl Pugh, Nonnie Polderman, José Renken-Terhaerdt, Evelien Snauwaert, Stella Stabouli, Jetta Tuokkola, Johan Vande Walle, Bradley A. Warady, Fabio Paglialonga, Rukshana Shroff

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

While it is widely accepted that the nutritional management of the infant with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is paramount to achieve normal growth and development, nutritional management is also of importance beyond 1 year of age, particularly in toddlers, to support the delayed infantile stage of growth that may extend to 2-3 years of age. Puberty is also a vulnerable period when nutritional needs are higher to support the expected growth spurt. Inadequate nutritional intake throughout childhood can result in failure to achieve full adult height potential, and there is an increased risk for abnormal neurodevelopment. Conversely, the rising prevalence …