Digital Commons Network^™

A Brief Survey On Modern Iris Feature Extraction Methods, Hanaa M. Ahmed, Mohammed A. Taha

Engineering and Technology Journal

This paper presents a survey of some of the most recent research work on the extraction phase of the Iris recognition system. Iris biometric system has been used for person recognition in wide applications where person identity authentication required for its stability and uniqueness as compared to other biometric systems. Iris based recognition systems consist of stages are Iris localization, normalization, feature extraction, and matching. The extraction of features influences the precision and reliability of the biometric system, so several methods have been used.

Effect Of Pulse Electric Field On Water Characteristics As A Disinfection Function In Filtration Unit, Ghassan Abukhanafer, Alaa H. Al-Fatlawi, Hassan H. Joni

Engineering and Technology Journal

This paper studied the impact of the addition of pulse electric-filed low voltage (PEF-LV) in the filtration process by designing, constructing, and operating a pilot-scale. The Disinfectant process (DP) demonstrated several benefits in terms of efficiency and ease of application, without the use of any chemical additive. This system contains two pairs of silver mesh electrodes inside the filtration column test with a low pulse voltage for killing microorganisms. The parametric effects of DP performance, such as alternating current pulse frequency and the voltage applied were investigated. The effect of PEF-LV on the biological, physical, and chemical characteristic of water …

Influence Of Microfibers Additive On The Self-Healing Performance Of Mass Concrete, Alaa Z. Dahesh, Farhad M. Othman, Alaa A. Abdul-Hamead

Engineering and Technology Journal

Because cracks are the main problem of mass concrete, this paper investigates an experimental study on the effect of polypropylene microfiber (PPMFs) on self -repair behavior of mass concrete, through study the microstructure, workability, physical, and mechanical properties of mass concrete. PPMFs with a diameter of 18 μm add in different percentages (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5) % of cement weight. Where the prepared mixture ratio was (1:2:4.8) and the water-cement ratio (W/C) was 0.4. Also, 0.6% of Superplasticizer (SP) % of cement weight to all concrete mixtures was added. In this study, an SEM analysis used to observe the …

Parametric Study On Buckling Behavior Of Aluminum Alloy Thin-Walled Lipped Channel Beam With Perforations Subjected To Combined Loading, Dalya S. Khazaal, Hussein M. Al-Khafaji, Imad A. Abdulsahib

Engineering and Technology Journal

The objective of the research presented in this paper is to investigate the buckling behavior of a perforated thin-walled lipped channel beam subjected to combined load. A nonlinear finite element method was used to analyze the buckling behavior of the beam. Experimental tests were made to validate the finite element simulation. Three factors with three levels for each factor were chosen to examine their influence on the buckling behavior of the beam and these factors are: the shape of holes, opening ratio and the spacing ratio of . The finite elements outcome was analyzed by using Taguchi method to identify …

Evaluation Of The Hydrodynamic Pressure Effect Of Cylindrical Liquid Storage Tank On The Granular Soil Behavior Under Seismic Excitation, Ahmed A. Hussein, Mohammed A. Al-Neami, Falah H. Rahil

Engineering and Technology Journal

Many liquid storage tanks around the world have been affected by earthquakes, and the seismic analysis of such tanks is much more complicated due to the Fluid-Structure Interaction. Besides, when the soil properties are taken into the consideration, the analysis with the Fluid-Soil-Structure Interaction becomes very complicated. In this paper, a series of shaking table tests are conducted on a model of the cylindrical water tank rested on dry granular soil and the equivalent load is considered to study the effect of hydrodynamic pressure generated in the storage water tank on the soil behavior. An experimental investigation of (1:100) scale …

Experimental Investigation Of Thermosyphon Thermal Performance Using Different Filling Ratio, Talib Z. Farge, Samar J. Ismael, Rawad M.Thyab

Engineering and Technology Journal

The present work investigated the thermal performance of thermosyphon by using distilled water as a working fluid at different filling ratios (50%, 60%, and 70 %). The thermosyphon was manufactured from a copper tube with outer and inner diameters (26 and 24) mm, respectively. The thermosyphon was tested experimentally at different input power (100, 200 and 300) Watt. The operating temperature of the oil was chosen below 85°C. Experimental results revealed that the filling ratio of 60% exhibited the best heat dissipation at the highest operating temperature. While the low operating temperature and 50 % filling ratio show better heat …

Direct Shear Strength Of Rpc Member, Shahad Q. Madhlom, Hussein A. Aziz, Ammar A. Ali

Engineering and Technology Journal

In this research paper, results are obtained from Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC) push-off specimens - double L shape subjected to direct shear loading. Different parameters considered are compressive strength, percentages of steel fiber, presence of aggregate and shear reinforcement. The results show that increasing in steel fiber content starting from 0.0% and ending with 1.5% leads to increases in the shear strength by (261%) and attempt to decrease its brittleness. The presence of steel fiber content enhances and improves the tensile strength and the shear strength. Using RPC in constructing the specimens enhances the shear strength by 29.6% compared with …

Performance Evaluation Of Photovoltaic Panels By A Proposed Automated System Based On Microcontrollers, Mustafa Q. Ali, Monaf S. Tapoub, Hayder A. Dhahadc

Engineering and Technology Journal

In this paper, an automated test setup for PV panels using LabVIEW and several microcontrollers (μCs) based embedded systems has been designed, tested, and implemented. This PV testing system has been characterized as fully automated and the only human intervention required is to install the PV panel and to set the required testing conditions. Several PV panels were evaluated and tested, the obtained results showed a high degree of accuracy and conformity with several testing schemes that have been carried out numerically, manually and manufacturer specifications. The designed system is characterized by a high-performance standard with accuracy, precision, and resolution …

Evaluation Of Gridded Precipitation Products And Machine-Learning Models For Rainfall Prediction In Arid Regions - Case Study In Qassim Region, Ksa, Ragab Rabeiy

Yanbu Journal of Engineering and Science

Receiving rainfall predictions in dry regions such as Saudi Arabia is challenging due to limited observational stations and the temporal and spatial variability of rainfall events. This study explores the performance of nine remote sensing rainfall datasets over the Qassim region of central Saudi Arabia. High-resolution rainfall data from ground-based sources were used to evaluate the accuracy of CHIRPS, TRMM, GPM, PERSIANN, CMORPH, CFSR, TerraClimate, TerraClimate_Monthly, and ERA5 datasets. Performance metrics such as R2, RMSE, MAE, and bias were calculated to quantify the accuracy of each dataset. Analysis revealed that ERA5 generally demonstrated better accuracy than the other datasets with …

Attention-Based Ensemble Deep Learning Model For Arabic And English Fake News Classification, Ameer Alhaq Alshamery

Journal of Intelligent Informatics, Networking, and Cybersecurity

It is difficult to classify articles as fake news since one article may consist of true facts with only some statements being fake. Moreover, classification becomes complicated for the Arabic language owing to its morphology and several ways of spelling, as well as the lack of well-classified and marked data sets. This paper presents an Ensemble Deep Learning Model (EDLM) used for Arabic and English fake news classification. The EDLM consists of CNN, Bi-LSTM with attention, and Bi-GRU with attention networks. Each of them produces one probability of the article, which is then summed up to a final probability via …

Topical Enrofloxacin Solution Delays Tympanic Membrane Epithelial Migration In Healthy Dogs, Jinseo Oh, Seulgi Bae

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Tympanic membrane epithelial migration (TMEM) is essential for homeostasis and self-cleaning function of the tympanic membrane and external ear canal. Otitis externa is common in small animal practice, and topical preparations are widely used for management. Although several treatments have been reported to alter TMEM rates in dogs, evidence on the effects of topical antibiotics on TMEM is limited. This study evaluated the effect of topical enrofloxacin on TMEM in healthy dogs. TMEM was assessed in both tympanic membranes of three healthy dogs (six ears) using a within-subject design with control and experimental conditions. In the experimental condition, enrofloxacin (5 …

Dynamic Media Device Power Management Using Proximity Inferred From Wireless Signals, Nikita Agarwal

Defensive Publications Series

Power management for media devices can be inefficient when a user is listening to audio content but is not actively viewing the display, potentially leading to increased energy consumption. Systems and methods can manage display power by inferring user proximity. The technology can utilize wireless signal characteristics, such as a received signal strength indicator from a user's personal peripheral device (e.g., a smartwatch, smartphone, or earbuds), to establish virtual zones around a media playback device. When the system infers that a user has moved from a viewing zone to a listening zone, it can automatically deactivate the display panel while …

Selective Factors Impacting Charter High School Enrollment, Nathan Marshall

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined factors influencing high school choice among Utah families, comparing parent priorities between charter and traditional public high schools. Using one-way ANOVA with Tukey honestly significant difference (HSD) post hoc comparisons, parental priorities were analyzed across personal, school community, and academic factors. Parents choosing traditional public high schools rated personal and school community factors significantly higher, emphasizing relationships and school climate, while charter high school parents rated academic factors significantly higher, favoring rigor and instructional quality. Charter parents' priorities were not uniform, however, but varied significantly by school model, suggesting that the charter-versus-traditional divide masks meaningful differences within …

Unplanned Public Nature Interiority, Kendra Locklear Ordia

Interiority

This paper advances a theory of urban interiority through the concept of public nature interiority, integrating ecological thinking into the spatial, sensory, and temporal conditions of exterior spaces that feel interior. Drawing on works by Tine Poot, Richard Sennett, Liz Teston, and Suzie Attiwill, it challenges binary distinctions between interior and exterior, emphasising relational and dynamic urban conditions. Using Attiwill's notions of collective individuation and an ecology of subjectivity, interiority is reframed as being shaped not only by human perception and experience with nature but also by biotic relations and multispecies interactions. The theory is situated within terrain vague—indeterminate, overlooked …

Marginalized Youths Pathways Into Healthcare: Hands-On Workshops As A Catalyst For Empowerment, James Ehiagwina

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: There is a disparity in the representation of individuals from marginalized and racialized backgrounds across healthcare professions (Keisha et. al, 2022). These disparities reflect ongoing barriers to access and a lack of relatable representation. Engaging workshops in healthcare professions have the ability to foster identification and inspiration for marginalized youths (Kendrick et. al, 2020).

Objective: To address these gaps, the CBNA-YorkU, a student-led organization, developed a summer workshop for marginalized youth to introduce nursing as an achievable career, promote a sense of possibility, and spark interest in post-secondary education.

Description: Building on the success of the 2024 inaugural workshop, …

Evaluating An Innovative Frugal Nurse-Led Diabetes Self-Management Educational Programme In Uganda, Melanie Stephens, Louise Ackers, Rincy Sajiith, Daniel Parker, Rachel Namirro

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Diabetes is a global health care problem, with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) projected to increase by 2045 (WHO, 2023). Diabetes health related complications such as foot ulcers (DFU) constitute the largest proportion of admissions, amputations, and mortality and have significant impact on healthcare resources, patients and communities in low to middle income countries (Rigato et al., 2018). Using Burdett Trust for Nursing funding the research team (two nurse researchers, a social scientist, and a biomechanic scientist) wanted to address this issue by introducing 'nurse-led frugal innovations' to demonstrably improve morbidity, reduce mortality, in-patient stays …

Acute Opioid Responses Are Modulated By Dynamic Interactions Of Oprm1 And Fgf12, Paige M Lemen, Alexander S Hatoum, Arpana Agrawal, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

We generated time-series data for 105 morphine- and naloxone-related traits across ~700 BXD mice (64 diverse strains for both sexes) for 3 hr after a single morphine injection. Variations in responses were mapped using genome sequencing-based genotypes. The locomotor responses to morphine mapped to the µ opioid receptor gene (

Predictive Modeling Of Readmission, Mortality, And Resource Utilization After Surgical And Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, Raymond J. Martin

LSU Master's Theses

Aortic stenosis is the most prevalent valvular heart disease in North America. Its definitive treatments—surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)—carry a substantial burden of unplanned hospital readmission, which worsens patient outcomes, strains hospital capacity, and creates financial risk under value-based payment programs. Prior predictive work has largely focused on binary classification of 30-day readmission after TAVR. Such studies typically report predictor effects as odds or hazard ratios without validating patient-level probabilities, and neglect both the timing of readmission and the resources it consumes. To address these gaps, this thesis develops and empirically validates a unified, …

In Re: Brent Webber

2026 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Clinical Phenotypes Associated With Nrxn1 Deletions In Five Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Oman, Samira Said Alhousni, Ahmed Idris, Watfa Al-Mamari, Abeer Al-Sayegh

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

NRXN1 (2p16.3) is essential for synaptic function and has been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the phenotypic features associated with NRXN1 copy number variants remains incompletely characterised, which complicates risk assessment in genetic counselling. This case series describes five children, who were evaluated at the Genetics and Developmental Pediatrics Clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Muscat, Oman, from 2011 to 2023, with rare NRXN1 deletions (57–150 kb). All met DSM-5 criteria for ASD and had speech and language delays with cognitive impairment. Consanguinity was reported in three of the families and two had …

Acquisitions Unit Annual Report 2025-2026, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Annual Report of the Acquisitions Unit, University Libraries, University of Rhode Island for FY2026. Covers personnel, work flow, special projects, and serial, monograph, and e-resource acquisitions. Supplemental files include data on library materials expenditures by a number of variables as well as important working documents from the year.

Lawyers Behind The Game: How Team General Counsel Shape The Future Of Sports, Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal Symposium

Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal (1994 - )

No abstract provided.

From Anaerobic Digesters To The Human Gut: Ecological Responses Of Microbiomes To Environmental And Biological Perturbations, Maliea Annholden Nipko

Theses and Dissertations

Microbial communities regulate essential ecological and metabolic processes across both engineered and host-associated ecosystems. Although these systems differ substantially in composition and function, they are governed by common ecological principles including community succession, resilience, species interactions, and responses to environmental and biological perturbations. This dissertation investigates how perturbations influence microbiome structure, function, and stability through three complementary studies spanning anaerobic digestion and the human gut microbiome. First, the effects of an extremophilic biological pretreatment using Caldicellulosiruptor bescii were evaluated in industrial-scale anaerobic digesters treating dairy manure. High- temperature pretreatment substantially altered microbial community composition, with bacterial populations remaining metabolically active …

Bridging The Gap In Science Research: Preparing Students For College- Level Research In The Sciences, Victoria Helwig, Yaoguang Li

UConn Library Presentations

Many first-year students enter college unprepared to fully engage with scientific literature and academic library resources. Drawing on experiences from academic librarians working with STEM students, this session explores common gaps in science research skills, including navigating databases, identifying scholarly sources, and understanding the structure of scientific literature. Participants will be introduced to practical strategies and classroom-ready activities to better prepare students for college-level research. Discussion questions: What science research skills do students struggle with most when entering college? How can high school instruction better support these skills? Where can librarians and educators collaborate to support student success?

Postcolonial Cosmogram: Modern Interiority Of The Methodist Heritage Gallery In Sibu, Sarawak, Sanjeh Kumar Raman, Tong Jia Chian

Interiority

This study examines the conservation and transformation of the Ching Ang Methodist Church into the Methodist Heritage Gallery (MHG) in Sibu, Sarawak, highlighting its role in placemaking and identity construction within the Foochow-Methodist community. By exploring the interplay between colonial modernity, heritage interpretation, and ethno-religious provenance, the research situates MHG as a critical site of memory and cultural articulation. Using an interpretivist approach, this study employs building surveys, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis to investigate the architectural, social, and symbolic dimensions of the MHG. The findings reveal that the gallery's adaptive reuse not only preserves Methodist-Foochow heritage but also serves …

Rural Youth Activism Amid Multi-Arena Contestations Of Infrastructure, Industry, And Conservation Landscapes, Rajib Gandi, Lala M. Kolopaking, Didin S. Damanhuri, Sofyan Sjaf

Forest and Society

Rural youth in Indonesia are increasingly entangled in overlapping pressures of industrial expansion and ecological conservation that redefine local livelihoods and participation. In Cigombong, Bogor, West Java, where the Lido Special Economic Zone borders Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park, youth confront intertwined political-economic and ecological exclusions that marginalize them from both development and conservation benefits. While state narratives portray youth as agents of rural transformation, many remain symbolically included but materially excluded from decision-making. This study examines how rural youth activists exercise agency and negotiate structural power within these contested arenas, analyzing how such interactions shape their livelihoods, participation, and …

Temporal Dynamics Of Sleep Value: How Momentary States And Individual Differences Shape The Valuation Of Sleep, Brandon Pattillo

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Objectives Sleep value is the relative worth individuals place on sleep. Although previous work has validated trait-level measures of sleep value, little is known about the valuation process that determines sleep’s value over time. This study examined hourly fluctuations in sleep value and identified predictors of these changes.

Methods Ninety undergraduates completed baseline questionnaires assessing demographic, sleep, and health variables, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Values Inventory (VI), and Monetary Sleep Value Questionnaire (MSVQ). Participants completed hourly 24-hour surveys assessing activity, activity value/pleasure, sleepiness, sleep ability, sleep/wake desires and intentions, and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for sleep. Confirmatory factor analyses …

Environmental Dna For Endangered Freshwater Mussel Monitoring: A Review On Global Synthesis Of Edna Methods, Challenges, And Innovative Strategies, Mizanur Rahman, Md. Saydur Rahman, Richard J. Kline

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Freshwater mussels (family Unionidae) are among the most endangered aquatic species worldwide, making effective monitoring vital for their conservation. Traditional surveys are laborious, time-consuming, and often miss rare or low-density populations. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a highly sensitive, non-invasive approach for freshwater mussel detection and monitoring; however, uncertainties in ecological interpretation continue to limit its broader application in freshwater biodiversity monitoring. We conducted a systematic review of 49 peer-reviewed studies, identified through an extensive literature search, to assess temporal research trends, methodological advancements, ecological contexts, and regulatory readiness of freshwater mussel eDNA monitoring. Findings show that freshwater mussel eDNA research …

Analysis Of The Atypical Temperature Dependence And Conformational Changes During Turnover Of A Lactobacillus Chlorogenic Acid Esterase, Nathaniel Carl, Yianni Tsigaris, Dan Ji, Nora K. Anpree, Kellie K. Omori, Cedric P. Owens

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Many bacterial chlorogenic acid esterases (ChlEs) exhibit atypical temperature behavior, featuring activities that barely change with temperature and activity maxima that fall below the thermal denaturation point. This work focuses on a ChlE from Lactobacillus helveticus (Lh–ChlE), which has a flat temperature dependence. First, it was determined that conformational changes during Lh–ChlE turnover are not rate-limiting and that the overall rate depends on the chemical step at all temperatures. Next, Lh–ChlE’s temperature dependence was investigated using a conformational equilibrium model that assumes the existence of a temperature-dependent equilibrium between an active and an inactive conformation and an activation heat capacity …

The Role Of Media And The Digital World In The Formation Of Digital Identity And First Impressions, Author Information Removed

JMLE Submissions Open for Review

This study investigates the relationship between media literacy, identity structures, and social perception among Georgian higher education students and explores how Media Literacy affects the Formation of First Impressions through the mediating roles of Social Identity and Digital Identity. The results demonstrate a strong positive correlation between Media Literacy and both Social Identity and Digital Identity. While the direct link between literacy and impression formation was non-significant. The mediation model revealed a psychological mechanism: Media Literacy significantly reduces superficial reliance on digital profiles only by strengthening a conscious and reflective Digital Identity. In the Georgian context, these findings suggest that …