Digital Commons Network^™

The Dialogue Of Spiritual Experience In Buddhist-Christian Encounter, S Mark Heim

Journal of Global Catholicism

Can one learn more about one’s own religion through the practices of another? My positive answer to this question is illustrated in this paper by reflection on aspects of the Buddhist practice of emptiness, in specific connection with Christian under-standing of our lives as creatures. The Buddhist meditative practices I have in mind have several things in common. They are introspective (activated in one person’s inner consciousness) and premised on the Buddhist understanding of emptiness (specifically “no self ” teachings). Buddhist introspective practice takes at least three broad forms. One of these is a meditative analytical awareness of the contents …

Benefits Of Pet Friendly Work Environments On Physical, Mental, And Social Health Of Office Workers: A Systematic Review, Ahmed Radwan, Jenna Keeman, Tristan Hunzinger, Owen Wilson, Shayla Seymour

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Background: Pet-friendly workplace initiatives are increasingly common, yet the empirical evidence for benefits to office workers’ physical, mental, and social health is scattered and heterogeneous.

Objective: To synthesize evidence on health-related outcomes associated with pet-friendly work environments for office and desk-based workers, and to appraise the current level of evidence.

Methods: A PRISMA-guided systematic search (2014–2024) was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, OVID, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Two reviewers independently screened titles/abstracts and full texts, extracted data, and appraised study quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) checklists. Outcomes were coded and synthesized narratively within three domains: physical, mental, …

Holding Hands, Alexis Notarianni, Md

The Medicine Forum

My patient had already received the medications we reach for when patients are in pain and afraid — antiemetics, analgesics, and anxiolytics. The nasogastric tube was in place. What remained was not another intervention, but the simple act of being there.

My patient had been healthy until just months earlier, when his life changed abruptly. In the two hundred days since, illness had altered nearly every part of his body. Now he lay in bed in pain, breathing through a tracheostomy, receiving nutrition from a feeding tube. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he reached out and took my hand. …

The Intersection Of Ventilator Support And Hospice In Late Als Diagnosis, J. Marco Cipriaso, Md, Kenna Hawes, Md, Margot Noyelle, Md, Megan Cecchine, Md

The Medicine Forum

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) often leads to respiratory failure that can be treated with respiratory support in the form of tracheostomy plus invasive mechanical ventilation. It typically occurs late in the disease course, often allowing patients to adequately prepare by discussing their goals of care. We describe a case of a patient whose ALS was diagnosed after he had TMV initiated. As a result, the patient and family faced a daily decision on when to withdraw ventilator support, and he was unable to achieve his ultimate wish to die at home. We highlight this to recognize that serious illnesses with …

The Back Burn: A Case Report Of Mollaret’S Meningitis In A Young Male, Muneeba Ali, Md, Lubaba Mukhtar, Md, Warda Naqvi, Md, Joseph Hassey, Md, Muhammad Ayub, Md

The Medicine Forum

Mollaret’s syndrome, or benign recurrent aseptic meningitis, is a rare condition characterized by recurrent, self-limited episodes of aseptic meningitis. We present the case of a 49-year-old male with a past medical history of herpes meningitis as a teenager, who presented to the emergency department (ED) with a headache, and whose initial lumbar puncture results were consistent with viral meningitis. HSV-2 was detectable in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) DNA by PCR but not detected on quantitative PCR. He was diagnosed with Mollaret’s meningitis, and all intravenous antiviral therapy was discontinued, with the patient making a full recovery. This case highlights the important …

Fever, Cytopenias, And Splenomegaly: A Hematologic Approach To Suspected Hlh In Autoimmune Liver Disease, Reed Firestone, Md, Ms

The Medicine Forum

Fever with cytopenias and splenomegaly raises concern for hematologic malignancy and hyperinflammatory syndromes such as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Distinguishing these entities is critical, as management strategies differ significantly. In this report, we describe a 19-year-old male with autoimmune hepatitis–primary sclerosing cholangitis overlap who presented with one year of recurrent fevers, cytopenias, and splenomegaly. Extensive infectious and malignant workup, including PET imaging and bone marrow biopsy, were negative. HLH was considered; however, laboratory findings were inconsistent, including ferritin of 191 ng/mL and fibrinogen of 683 mg/dL. His course remained chronic and stable. The presentation was attributed to autoimmune liver disease with …

Delayed Immune-Related Ophthalmoplegia After Pembrolizumab Therapy: A Case Report, Mohammed Shah, Md, Smriti Nair, Md, Sarah Sulkowski, Md, Maheen Imran, Bs

The Medicine Forum

We present a case of Pembrolizumab-associated ophthalmoplegia in a patient with HNSCC who previously developed an immune checkpoint inhibitor associated hepatitis. Immune checkpoint inhibitor– associated ocular toxicities are rare, occurring in approximately <1% to 1.1% of treated patients.^1,2 This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of neuroophthalmic immune-related adverse events and the importance of prompt evaluation and immunosuppressive therapy.

Radiographic Imaging Of Power Injectable Medical Access Ports As A Supplemental Identification Tool, Nikhil Goyal, Md, Huy M. Do, Md, Alexandra P. Toscano, Bs, Lillian G. Spear, Bs Georgetown University, Lindsey A. Hazen, Rn, Les R. Folio, Do

The Medicine Forum

Medical access ports (MAPs) are implanted devices often used for intravenous administration of chemotherapeutic agents or contrast agents for CT or MR imaging. Improper MAP usage poses risk of catheter rupture; hence, proper identification and usage are essential. We demonstrate an approach for MAP identification based on their unique radiographic imaging features.

When It’S Not Gastroparesis: Isolated Idiopathic Acth Deficiency Presenting With Recurrent Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Navya Pendyala, Md, Ramya Pendyala, Md, Anna Mathew, Md, Beatriz Torre, Md, Christopher Henry, Md

The Medicine Forum

Adrenal insufficiency is an uncommon but important cause of nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms. We present a 33-year-old male with recurrent nausea, vomiting, and presumed gastroparesis who was ultimately found to have isolated idiopathic ACTH deficiency after discordant diagnostic findings prompted further evaluation. His symptoms resolved rapidly with glucocorticoid replacement. This case highlights the importance of considering adrenal insufficiency in patients with unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms and systemic features despite negative structural work up and underscores the role of diagnostic anchoring in delayed diagnosis.

Occupational Hydrocarbon Exposure Presenting As Acute Hepatocellular Injury With Atypical Mitotic Figures On Liver Histopathology In An Oil Rig Worker: A Case Report, Hamzah Shariff, Md, Maria Averbuch, Do, Leanna Rucker, Md, Madison Force, Md, Dina Halegoua-De Marzio, Md

The Medicine Forum

Occupational exposure to hydrocarbons and aromatic solvents in the petroleum industry has been somewhat associated with hepatotoxicity, though the clinical manifestations and histologic features remain incompletely characterized. We present the case of a 33-year-old oil rig worker with prolonged occupational exposure to benzene and hydrocarbon compounds who presented with acute hepatocellular liver injury and concurrent biliary pathology. The patient presented with right upper quadrant pain, jaundice, and pale stools. Laboratory evaluation demonstrated marked hepatocellular injury with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation to 1183 U/L and total bilirubin of 6 mg/dL. Extensive infectious, metabolic, and autoimmune evaluation was unrevealing. ANA and ASMA …

Lvad Patient With Delayed Family Involvement Due To Incarceration, J. Marco Cipriaso, Md, Kathleen Mechler, Md

The Medicine Forum

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement requires an extensive support system for success. Patients who are incarcerated face unique challenges in achieving this due to prison rules. We describe a case in which an LVAD patient suffered a massive intracranial hemorrhage, leaving him unable to make his own decisions. Medical teams did not involve his family in admissions for his slow chronic decline, but family were asked to make decisions for him at this acute change causing them significant distress. We advocate that families of incarcerated patients be more routinely involved in provider communications and education related to their chronic …

Isolated Left Ventricle Apical Non-Compaction- A Diagnostic Conundrum, Trisha Sindhu, Md, Ranjita Sengupta, Md

The Medicine Forum

Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) cardiomyopathy is a rare myocardial disorder characterized by abnormal morphogenesis of the left ventricle (LV). It is typically associated with additional cardiac abnormalities and is most often diagnosed in childhood.¹ We present a unique case of isolated LVNC in a 42-year-old, physically active African American police officer. This case highlights an uncommon presentation of LVNC and underscores the variable specificity of current diagnostic criteria across diverse patient populations.³

The Medicine Forum: Volume 27

The Medicine Forum

The Journal of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital - Department of Internal Medicine, Volume 27, 2025-2026

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Case Reports
• Letter to the Editor
• Research Studies
• Humanities & Reflections

Sustainable Solutions For Food Security In Djibouti: A Renewable Energy Initiative, Michaëlle Arielle Kouakep Tsoh, Tsoh Ekassi Gilbert, Thierry Césaire Kenmogne, Brice Pinga Tcheugoué, Justin Kouamo

Revue Marocaine de Droit, d'Economie et de Gestion (Moroccan Journal of Law, Economics and Management)

According to the World Bank Group, East African countries have fragile food systems and low agricultural production. Djibouti is among the most undernourished countries in Africa and is severely affected by freshwater scarcity. Households regularly face climatic shocks and high electricity costs. This literature review characterizes Djibouti’s food systems and food security situation, identifies and analyzes renewable energy technologies implemented to improve food security in the local context, and presents renewable technologies as sustainable solutions to food insecurity. The results show that rural households are more likely to be food insecure and that the Djiboutian government promotes sustainable energy solutions. …

Effect Of Higher-Alcohol/Gasoline Blends On Performance, Acoustic Characteristics, And Emissions Of A Spark-Ignition Engine, Isam E. Yousif, Adel M. Saleh

Engineering and Technology Journal

Future studies offer many solutions to reduce problems from internal combustion engines; one is the use of blended fuels containing alcohols. This research aimed to investigate the effect of blending Iraqi regular gasoline with heavy alcohols, such as 1-butanol and 1-octanol, by conducting experiments on a 4-cylinder spark-ignition (SI) engine. The first goal is to prepare a blended gasoline consisting of 88% regular gasoline, 6% 1-butanol, and 6% 1-octanol by mass, and to use it for thermal analysis of engine operation. This work fills a gap by experimentally evaluating a mixed mid- and long-chain alcohol blend (1-butanol/1-octanol) with gasoline, an …

Efficiency Improvement In A Two-Dimensional Axial Diffuser By Passive And Active Flow Control Methods, Muthana M. Ali, Qusay Jihad, Ali L. Ekaid

Engineering and Technology Journal

This paper presents a combined numerical and experimental investigation of the effects of boundary-layer bleeding and thermal control on flow behavior and separation within a two-dimensional rectangular diffuser having an inlet cross-section (7 × 25) cm. The experiments were conducted under fully developed flow conditions over a wide range of Reynolds numbers, based on the hydraulic diameter, from (3.4×¹⁰4-1.64×¹⁰5) and for diffuser divergence angles varying from (5^∘ to 20^∘) .To accurately predict the velocity field, pressure distribution, and boundary-layer development, the incompressible Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations were solved using the finite volume method …

Effect Of Graphite-Mwcnt Hybrid Nanofluid Mql On Cutting Force During Turning Of Ti-6al-4v Alloy, Abbas Ibrahim Khwakaram, Yassin Mustafa Ahmed, Muhammed Tahir Muhammed

Engineering and Technology Journal

Titanium alloys are popular in the aerospace and medical fields because they are very robust but difficult to work with. The study was carried out on a hybrid nanofluid (graphite and MWCNTs, in sunflower oil) under minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) conditions. Unlike conventional lubrication methods, hybrid nano-additives reduce cutting forces during turning. The Taguchi L18 orthogonal array was employed to study the effects of cutting speed, feed rate, and cooling conditions on cutting force. The ``smaller-is-better'' rule was applied to convert the average cutting force into signal-to-noise S/N ratios. ANOVA was used to determine the extent to which each factor …

Diagnostic And Clinical Management Performance Of Large Language Models In Pediatric Infectious Diseases: A Multi-Model Comparative Cross-Sectional Study With Healthcare Professionals And Medical Students, Sait Ramazan Gülbay, Muhammed Yusuf Ozan Avcı, Muhammed Nezih Koç, Hanife Tutan, Sümeyye Koç, Ömer Adil İlhan, Metin Doğan

Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Objective: Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly investigated to support clinical decision-making. However, their comparative performance against human expertise in pediatric infectious diseases remains insufficiently characterized. This study compared diagnostic accuracy and management score between healthcare professionals, medical students, and multiple LLM configurations. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted using 30 standardized pediatric infectious disease cases stratified by difficulty (6 easy, 12 medium, 12 difficult). Each case included three multiple-choice questions: a diagnostic gateway question and two management questions. A conditional scoring framework was applied: management questions were scored only when the diagnostic gateway question was answered correctly. The …

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Depression In Pediatric Epilepsy Patients At Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, Paneeta Panjanya, Manachawee Maneeratchakit, Vitchayaporn Emarach Saengow

Journal of Child Science

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder commonly associated with depressive symptoms, which can negatively affect quality of life. Early identification through screening is therefore important in pediatric epilepsy care. Objective: To determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms and associated factors among pediatric patients with epilepsy at Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients aged 10–15 years with epilepsy attending the Pediatric Epilepsy Clinic between May 2024 and June 2025. A total of 141 participants were included. Demographic, family, and epilepsy-related data were collected. Depressive symptoms were screened using the Thai version of the Children’s …

Physical Development Of Children Born From Adolescent Mothers: A Descriptive Evaluation Compared To World Averages, Sebahat Aydos, Aysel Köksal Akyol

Journal of Child Science

Background: Adolescent motherhood is a globally prevalent phenomenon that has been the subject of scientific research for many years. However, comprehensive scientific studies focusing on the physical development of children born to adolescent mothers remain quite limited. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the height, weight, and head circumference development of infants and children born to adolescent mothers with the World Health Organization Multicenter Growth Reference Study (WHO MGRS) data. Methods: The study sample consisted of 2,209 infants and children born to adolescent mothers in Turkey, whose records were extracted from the Infant/Child Follow-up Data Set of …

Smart-Twin: Systematic Modeling And Real-Time Transportation With Digital Twins, Hovannes Kulhandjian

Mineta Transportation Institute

Urban transportation networks are increasingly affected by everyday congestion, non-recurring disruptions, and limited real-time visibility into what is happening on the road. Transportation agencies require advanced tools that support faster, proactive management and data-driven infrastructure decisions rather than passive monitoring. This report presents SMART-TWIN, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)–driven Digital Twin framework designed for real-time traffic operations, disruption detection, and performance-based decision-making support. The SMART-TWIN architecture integrates microscopic traffic simulation (detailed traffic modeling), long-horizon synthetic demand generation simulating real travel patterns, supervised machine learning, and performance analysis within a unified and reproducible workflow. A corridor-scale Digital Twin was developed for the …

Fair + Equitable July 2026, International Association Of Assessing Officers

Fair + Equitable

The July F+E issue reviews how eliminating the property tax would impact local budgets.

Also in this issue:

• An updated Annual Conference session schedule
• The President’s Column
• IAAO launches national campaign to explain the value of the property tax
• Longtime IAAO director retires
• The 2026 conference charity
• IAAO Library hot topics
• New IAAO designees
• Meet A Rep

How Important Is Clean Energy To Utahns?, Elizabeth Brunner, Stacia Ryder

Utah People and Environment Poll (UPEP)

Utah's energy mix has changed significantly over the past several decades as it has moved to cleaner forms of generation. For example, according to the Energy Information Administration, in 2024, coal fueled about 45% of Utah's total electricity net generation, down from 75% in 2015. As can be seen in the chart below, the state anticipates demand growth, with further reductions in coal alongside a significant increase in solar, storage, and natural gas by 2032. Though not represented in these charts, plans for nuclear power generation have been proposed in Brigham City as well as outside of Green River. Utah …

Leader Election System For An Unmanned Ground Vehicle Swarm, Milan Chhetri, Brendan Beas, Paul Levin

Electrical Engineering

This senior project presents the design and implementation of a leader-election system for a leader-follower unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) swarm using embedded control and wireless communication. The objective of the project is to improve the robustness and mission longevity of a multi-agent robotic system by allowing the swarm to dynamically select the most suitable leader during operation. Each UGV is equipped with an ESP32 microcontroller, DWM1000 Ultra-Wideband (UWB) ranging modules, an MPU-6050 inertial measurement unit (IMU), motor drivers, and supporting power electronics to enable communication, sensing, and autonomous control. A battery monitoring subsystem was developed using the ESP32's built-in Analog-to-Digital …

Maximum Power Point Tracker And Dc/Dc Converter, Isabel Aguas, Madeline Steiner, Haley Blouin, Tristan Asquith, Ellijah Garcia

Electrical Engineering

The product is a solar Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) with an integrated DC-DC converter for efficient power extraction from a solar module. The MPPT optimizes solar energy, sourcing power to a 12V battery which is the source of a DC-DC converter operating as a variable voltage output for various applications, capable of providing voltage greater or less than the voltage supplied by the solar module. The DC-DC converter outputs a manually adjustable DC voltage within the range of 5-50V. Both MPPT and the DC-DC converter are functional for standard solar modules with power ratings ranging from 50-400W, open circuit …

Archimedean Spiral Antenna Array With Klopfenstein And Exponential Tapered Balun Feeds, Leo Joseph Alvelais Iv, Paul Obrecht, Naguib Abdulla, Preston Mavady, Collin Fan

Electrical Engineering

This project presents the design, fabrication, and experimental evaluation of a broadband 3x3 Archimedean spiral antenna array tile for 2.8-3.8 GHz. Each element combines a two-arm spiral on Rogers RO4350B, a printed 50 to 150 Ω tapered balun, and a conductive backplane. Klopfenstein and Exponential feed implementations were modeled in Ansys HFSS, generated and tuned with automated scripting, fabricated, and evaluated with calibrated network and anechoic-chamber measurements. The Klopfenstein-fed hardware met the -10 dB input-reflection criterion across the project band. The exponential array provided a broad matched response but reached approximately -8 dB near 2.95 GHz. Measured center-element patterns retained …

Vision-Based Autonomous Tracking Rover, Alejandro Ahumada, Erick Ayala, Jonathan Chavez

Electrical Engineering

AAC Vision designed and constructed a vision-based autonomous tracking rover capable of exploring an indoor environment, avoiding obstacles, generating a two-dimensional LiDAR map, detecting a standard orange basketball, and approaching the target without manual steering. The rover uses a Raspberry Pi 4, an Intel RealSense D435 RGB-D camera, an RPLIDAR C1, four JGB37-520 Hall-encoder motors, dual H-bridge motor drivers, a 12 V battery, and a custom aluminum chassis measuring approximately 8 in by 12 in and weighing 6.7 lb. The final mission emphasized reliable target discovery rather than travel between predetermined points. The software integrates Python, OpenCV, Ultralytics YOLO, RealSense …

A Rationale For Social Return On Investment, Catherine Ipsen, Christopher Clapp, Jordan A. Costello

Employment

This fact sheet compares the utility of two different return on investment (ROI) models for assessing the value of VR services. In this fact sheet, the research team compares data from the Virginia VR program to demonstrate differences between the social and taxpayer ROI models and makes a case for using social ROI for assessing VR services.

Crustal Structure Of The Vøring Plateau And Vøring Spur From Joint Refraction And Reflection Travel-Time Tomography, Anika Nawar Mayeesha

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Crustal architecture of the Vøring Plateau and Vøring Spur in the mid-Norwegian continental margin remains debated because the geophysical data in the area do not uniquely constrain whether the crust is continental, oceanic, or transitional. This study reanalyzes wide-angle ocean-bottom seismometer data from Profile 11-03 across the Vøring passive continental margin using joint travel-time tomography of crustal refractions and Moho reflections. A total of 6,760 first-arrival picks and 542 PmP picks from sixteen instruments were inverted for P-wave velocity and reflector depth. Three starting models were inverted independently to test sensitivity to the initial crustal configuration. The first two used …

Observing System Simulation Experiments To Investigate Impacts Of Deep-Tropospheric Uas Flights On Forecasts, Kenneth Alexander Swan

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Uncrewed aircraft systems have emerged as a promising option to address meteorological gaps in observations in the lower troposphere. With recent advancements, UAS may be able to address gaps aloft in areas that lack coverage from radiosondes and commercial aircraft. UAS have shown the potential to significantly benefit NWP forecasts from profiles in the lowest 2 km AGL, but the impact of UAS profiles to the tropopause has yet to be quantified. Additionally, the impacts of hazardous flying conditions that UAS would encounter need to be addressed to guide future UAS capabilities. To address these questions, we designed an observing …