Digital Commons Network^™

Longitudinal Behavioral Delta Detection System And Method For Passive Multi-Modal Audio Analysis, Eric Zavesky

Defensive Publications Series

A system and method for passive longitudinal behavioral delta detection through multi-modal audio analysis is disclosed. The system comprises an edge audio capture device for continuously capturing ambient audio, an on-device multi-modal feature extraction pipeline extracting acoustic features as semantic-level representations, topic-level natural language embeddings without retaining specific words, behavioral graph topology interaction data, and classified non-verbal sound event frequency vectors, and a longitudinal delta detection engine computing temporal deltas at multiple resolutions against a historical baseline. A privacy architecture ensures on-device processing with content obliteration and hashed entity identity. A model adaptation layer provides supervised, unsupervised membership testing, and …

Pipeline-Based Data Processing Method, System, And Hardware Apparatus, Jinhui Wu

Defensive Publications Series

Existing data processing systems universally adopt a centralized computing paradigm that relies on
complex operations, resulting in high computational resource consumption and significant bandwidth
redundancy. This paper proposes a data processing method, system, and hardware apparatus based on a
Pipeline Array, wherein input data is distributed across multiple independent Pipelines. Each Pipeline
independently maintains a state value, compares the input against its state, outputs upon change, Blocks
when unchanged, and independently updates its state value. Founded on the Zero-Computation Property
(core operations are comparison and assignment only), the system comprises Pipeline, State Storage,
Compare, Output Control, and State Update modules. …

A Fluid-Dynamic Architecture For Topological Qubit Protection Against Phononic Decoherence, Christopher L. Eckes

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure formalizes a non-particle engineering framework for stabilizing quantum states against environment-induced decoherence using topological surface harmonics. By reinterpreting qubits as localized vertical tension fields on a discrete two-dimensional information fluid substrate (\(z=0\)), phase stability is established via passive geometric vortex compaction and time-periodic (Floquet) symmetry protection fields rather than active physical isolation. Real-world laboratory verification testing protocols using fractional quantum Hall two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs), topological acoustic metamaterials, and cascaded superconducting waveguides are explicitly defined to provide prior art for scalable quantum computing architectures.

Real-Time Temporal-Consistent Virtual Attire Synthesis And Occlusion Handling In Video Communication Interfaces, Richa Gupta

Defensive Publications Series

Professionals in hybrid and remote work environments frequently face challenges transitioning between casual attire and business-appropriate clothing for unexpected or back-toback video calls. Existing solutions such as virtual try-on engines, three-dimensional (3D) avatars, and facial augmented reality (AR) filters suffer from limitations including offline processing requirements, loss of authentic human presence, and inability to handle body apparel dynamics. The disclosed technology provides a digital wardrobe system integrated into video communication pre-call interfaces, utilizing edge-based neural rendering to synthesize realistic clothing over live video streams. The system employs neural fabric anchoring with pose estimation for temporal stability, and a real-time depth-based …

The Registered Dietitian Nutritionist’S Implementation Of Dysphagia Screening In Clinical Practice: A Commentary, Nicole Wiksten, Holly Estes-Doetsch, Laura C. Boucher, Sarah Rusnak, Kristen M. Roberts

Journal of Dietetic Education

Background: The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) amended the competencies for the future education model (FEM) in dietetic education to include competency 3.6 stating that the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) must be able to "Initiate and conduct bedside swallow screenings". There is no clear process for RDNs to implement dysphagia screening in practice or academia. The aim of this review is to inform clinicians and educators on current literature discussing current RDN and speech language pathology approaches to dysphagia screening and to provide a proposed curriculum for implementation of competency 3.6 in clinical practice and academia.

Disability-Related Educational Content In Nutrition And Dietetic Programs: An Exploratory Study, Wendy Medunick, Allison Gomes, Joachim Sackey, Laura Byham-Gray, Jane Ziegler

Journal of Dietetic Education

Background: Health disparities experienced by people with disabilities (PWD) are partly attributed to inadequate knowledge, training, confidence and competence regarding disabilities among health professionals. While registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are key members of the healthcare team, it is unclear how pre-professional nutrition and dietetics (ND) programs prepare future RDNs to care for PWD. This study examined the status of disability-related education within ND programs in the United States. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional electronic survey was distributed to 570 directors of accredited ND programs. The survey, which adapted questions from a previously validated instrument and published studies, included questions assessing disability-related …

Assessing And Addressing Cultural Competence And Cultural Humility In Dietetic Education, Zoe Duran, Nicholas Slagel, Lisa Caldwell, Katie Kage

Journal of Dietetic Education

Limited theory-informed, dietetic-specific resources are available to guide the development, evaluation, and refinement of culturally competent (CC) curricula. This pilot study used a mixed-methods, theory-informed approach to evaluate CC integration within an undergraduate dietetics curriculum and examine the applicability of existing CC self-assessment tools for dietetic students. A senior-level undergraduate community nutrition curriculum was evaluated using the Tool for Assessing Cultural Competence Training (TACCT), guided by the Campinha-Bacote Model of Cultural Competence in Healthcare Delivery. James Banks’ Model of Multicultural Curriculum Reform was then applied to refine curricular content and learning activities. In addition, 74 students enrolled in a didactic …

Virtual Reality: The Future Of Didactic And Experiential Education For Nutrition And Dietetics, Michael Holik, Dexter Richardson

Journal of Dietetic Education

The integration of virtual reality (VR) into nutrition and dietetics education provides an innovative answer to challenges in accessing experiential learning. This study examined student perceptions of immersive VR experiences designed to simulate hospital foodservice operations and nutrition counseling sessions, guided by the Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DOI). A quasi-experimental design involved 55 participants who engaged with 360° VR modules featuring interactive elements, avatars representing key healthcare roles, and embedded critical-thinking questions. Results demonstrated strong support for VR’s educational value across DOI’s five key attributes: relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. Participants reported enhanced understanding of registered dietitian roles, …

How Philip K. Dick Used The Unreliable Narrator To Transport Unwitting Acolytes, Michael Barros, Jordi Smith

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

This essay examines the use of the unreliable narrator to transport the reader into narrative worlds, specifically in Philip K. Dick's fiction. By exploring the phenomenon of narrative transportation and the role of emotions in engagement with fiction, we argue that Dick's use of the unreliable narrator significantly engages and transports readers into his narrative worlds. Subsequently, we contend that his belief in the fundamental reality of those worlds is effectively positioning himself as a gatekeeper and mediator between the narrative world and the real world, which sets him, in his mind, as a prophet, using fiction as a tool …

Assessing And Addressing Financial Risk In Capitated Primary Care Contracts, Michael R. Wieck Dba, Laurence Smith, Steven R. Stout Dba

Engaged Management ReView

We employ multivariate statistical modeling and Monte Carlo simulation to study systematic and unsystematic financial risk faced by physician groups under capitated contracts with Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs). We use mixed methods and a standard reimbursement formula for risk-sharing contracts with primary care physicians (PCPs). We find that diversifying risk simply by increasing the size of a practice is insufficient to mitigate risks of large negative cash flows from capitation contracts and can result in financial failure. However, if use of costly medical services by patients is reduced from levels typically experienced under traditional Medicare to the levels of patients …

Letter From The Professor

Scientific Kenyon: The Neuroscience Edition

No abstract provided.

An Architecture Of Vanishing: Toward A Protocol Of Archival Disappearance, Edgardo Civallero

Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies

This article rethinks the preservationist reflex that equates archival care with permanence. Drawing on post- and decolonial theory, it provincializes endurance as a historically situated ideal and foregrounds global traditions where disappearance, opacity, and cyclical renewal structure memory. It reframes vanishing as custodianship rather than neglect, introducing a taxonomy of protocols of epistemic disappearance—temporal, spatial, relational, semantic, and material—and a grammar of vanishing that operationalizes them as design tools. Extending to institutions, it outlines seasonal, dismantling, shadow, and nomadic archives as forms that measure success by their capacity to end well. A concluding framework articulates five principles—vanishing as care, duration …

Exploring The Situation Of Health Literacy Promotion To Delay Kidney Disease Progression In Older Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Convergent Parallel Mixed-Method Study, Kritanon Janthasri, Ladawan Panpanit, Khanitta Nuntaboot

Journal of Health Research

Background: Health literacy (HL) is crucial for delaying chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, yet evidence on HL promotion among older adults with early-stage CKD is limited. This study examines HL level and explores the situation of HL promotion for delaying kidney progression among older adults with CKD.

Methods: A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was employed. The quantitative phase, 297 older adults with CKD complete a questionnaire. The qualitative phase, 50 participants then took part in interviews to explore their experiences. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data through content analysis. Findings were integrated to identify …

Wildfire Risk & Preparedness For Urban Rail Operators Supporting Large Stadium Events, Karl Kim, Eric Yamashita, Daniele Spirandeli, David Rother

Mineta Transportation Institute

The project team, in collaboration with partners and stakeholders, developed a four-hour training course designed to build a foundational understanding of how wildfire hazards affect rail systems infrastructure operations and how this knowledge can help equip urban rail operators with tools and best practices for proactive risk management. Led by the University of Hawaiʻi and the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center, in partnership with Haley & Aldrich, Inc., this technical report presents an overview of the four modules and scenario planning exercise that together make up the four-hour Wildfire Risk & Preparedness for Urban Rail Operators Supporting Large Stadium Events …

Enhancing Wildfire Resilience In The Rail Industry: Developing A Community Resilience Extreme Events Portal (Creep), Karl Kim, Eric Yamashita, Daniele Spirandeli, David Rother, Chris Chiesa, Greg Hampe, Michele Toner

Mineta Transportation Institute

The Community Resilience Extreme Events Portal (CREEP) provides a centralized platform for accessing wildfire danger indices, critical asset locations, and vulnerability scores for rail segments. The project team developed a data-driven, indicator-based vulnerability assessment framework that defines vulnerability as a function of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. To build this framework, the team selected publicly available datasets, prioritizing national datasets whenever possible to ensure transparency, reproducibility, and scalability. The portal allows users to analyze and visualize vulnerability across 1-kilometer segments of Class I freight and passenger rail lines in California, supporting planning and mitigation prioritization to help reduce rail-related fatalities, …

Media Emotion Regulation And Executive Function In Childhood: Associations With Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia, Lara M. Almeida

Theses and Dissertations

Media emotion regulation (MER), or the use of media to help children manage emotions, may influence children's development by shaping opportunities for practicing self-regulatory skills. Guided by the Dynamic, Relational, Ecological Approach to Media Effects Research (DREAMER) model, this study examined longitudinal associations between MER and executive functioning (EF) in early childhood and explored whether respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), a physiological index of regulation, predicted developmental changes. Participants included 175 parent-child dyads assessed across two annual waves when children were approximately 4 and 5 years old. Structural equation modeling was used to test bidirectional associations between MER and EF while …

Who Controls The Block? How States Can Regulate Tokenized Residential Real Estate, David J. Reiss, Joseph Bizub, Justin Peralta

Cornell Law Faculty Working Papers

In July 2025, the City of Detroit filed a major nuisance abatement action against RealT, a fintech that had sold blockchain-based fractional interests in more than four hundred Detroit rental properties to some 22,000 investors around the world. Within a year, a court had ordered the company’s rents into escrow, the company had conceded to its investors that its “model no longer works,” and it had announced the liquidation of its portfolio -- leaving tenants without basic services and token holders facing steep losses.

This article uses the rise and collapse of RealT, together with case studies of the other …

Foundations Of Project Management, Michael Daniel Sherwin

Open Education Materials

This book aims to equip readers with practical tools and strategies for managing people, resources, and tasks effectively. We include examples, case studies, references, and tools and templates. We encourage you to explore references and videos to deepen your understanding of project management. It is designed for everyone, not just those individuals seeking to be project managers. Whether you are supporting or leading projects, this course will provide a foundation for developing the skills needed to drive results within an organization.

Course: GRBU 638

Creative Commons Attribution

Interventions To Improve Nurse Outcomes In South African Private And Public Hospitals: A Case Study, Babalwa Tau, Siedine Knobloch Coetzee, Nicholin Scheepers

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: South African nurses face ongoing challenges, including escalating healthcare needs of a growing population, staff and resource shortages, and deteriorating infrastructure, all of which negatively affect their health and wellbeing, relationship with work, productivity and effectiveness and satisfaction with work (South Africa, 2024). Although numerous studies explore interventions to improve these nurse outcomes (Niskala et al., 2020; Ramachandran et al., 2023; Xu et al., 2020), few address the realities of developing countries such as South Africa.

Methods: An exploratory multiple-case study design was employed (Yin, 2014). Secondary data from a national hospital database (n = 143) were analysed to …

Decent Work In Nursing: A Walker And Avant Concept Analysis, Mu-Hsi Deborah Young, Chiu-Yueh Yang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Although the WHO and the International Labour Organization have repeatedly emphasized the importance of promoting decent work to ensure a sustainable nursing workforce, the concept of decent work within nursing remains insufficiently defined, creating challenges for implementation.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to analyze the concept of decent work in nursing.

Method: A literature review was conducted following Walker and Avant’s concept analysis method. Searches were performed in PubMed, EBSCOhost (including CINAHL Complete, CINAHL Ultimate, MEDLINE, APA PsycArticles, and APA PsycINFO), ProQuest, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Airiti Library through April 2025.

Result: Twenty studies were …

Body Composition Of Psychiatric Nursing Home Residents In Taiwan Assessed By Inbody, Ya-Mei Cheng, Wan-Leng Lin, Yao-Hui Huang, Chieh-Yi Wang, Jun-Dai Lin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Residents of psychiatric nursing homes often experience chronic mental illness, prolonged psychotropic medication use, and limited physical activity, all of which contribute to reduced muscle mass and altered body composition. These conditions increase the risk of falls, obesity, metabolic syndrome, sarcopenia, and functional decline. This study assessed the body composition of residents in Taiwanese psychiatric nursing homes using the InBody analyzer to inform future health-promotion and nutrition interventions.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to August 2024 in a psychiatric nursing home in central Taiwan. Eighty-three residents (44 men, 39 women) were included; individuals with acute psychiatric …

Assess The Effectiveness Of Sleep Hygiene Education Programe On Sleep Quality Among Students, Narinder Kaur Walia

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: Sleep is essential for physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being. According to WHO, good sleep involves 7–9 hours of rest, minimal sleep latency, and the absence of disturbances like insomnia. However, many students lack awareness of proper sleep hygiene. Poor sleep quality is common among nursing students due to academic pressure, clinical rotations, irregular schedules, and lifestyle habits like caffeine use and social media. These issues can affect mental and physical health, academic performance, and patient care. Sleep disturbances are a growing concern among the general population, with global prevalence ranging from 3.9% to 45%. In India, studies show 36.3% …

All The Pretty Ponies, David Rose

Theses

Adopting a nonconventional, narrative approach, this thesis explores a world of ponies where memories become distorted and rewritten through the author’s self-insert of a 'little pink pony' persona to illustrate the psychological states investigated in the exhibit. This paper serves as an artistic companion piece to the thesis exhibition by David Rose that featured these concepts through visual media. David utilizes painting, screenprinting, and animation as mediums for this body of work. This thesis is written like a story because David’s work is founded on the principle of creating and displaying an experience rather than simply stating the facts. Through …

Usa V. Jamal Gwaltney

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Integrating Matrescence Into Birth Worker Practice: A Practice Improvement Project, Kelsey B. Green

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) affect 20–25% of mothers worldwide and are a leading cause of maternal complications. Stigma, fragmented care, and limited provider training leave families vulnerable, while birth workers offer trusted, continuous support.

Problem: Birth workers' maternal mental health (MMH) training is minimal and often excludes matrescence, the developmental transition to motherhood, limiting their ability to distinguish normal adjustment from clinical PMADs and delaying intervention.

Methods: A single-group, pre-/post-test design evaluated a matrescence-informed workshop at Roots Community Health's 2nd Annual Symposium. Anonymous surveys measured knowledge, attitudes, and confidence, analyzed with Mann–Whitney U, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and …

When Everyone Is A Librarian: Examining Job Titles And Responsibilities In California School Libraries, Mary Ann Harlan, Jeffrey Mattison, Jodi Hwang

Learning Hub

School libraries in California are staffed by a wide range of personnel, including credentialed Teacher Librarians (TLs) and paraprofessional staff working under a variety of job titles. Analysis of responses from the California School Library Survey revealed substantial variation in self-reported library staff titles, raising questions about the relationship between job titles, job descriptions, and professional responsibilities. This study examined the titles used by individuals working in California school libraries as paraprofessionals and analyzed corresponding job descriptions to determine whether distinctions exist between professional standards and descriptions and paraprofessional duties. Using survey data from the 2022–2023 California School Library Survey, …

Preparing Inclusive Educators: The Impact Of Fieldwork Experience On Preservice Teachers’ Knowledge, Skills, And Confidence In Working With Students With Disabilities, Adrian Jung

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

This study examined preservice teachers’ confidence in working with students with disabilities across Elementary (n = 44), Secondary (n = 43), and Special Education (n = 52) programs. Using a quantitative pretest–posttest survey design, participants completed an adapted version of the Special Needs Confidence Scale before and after student teaching. Descriptive statistics and Tukey post hoc analyses were conducted. Results indicated overall increases in confidence following fieldwork, with Special Education preservice teachers reporting consistently higher confidence than Elementary and Secondary peers. Findings highlight the role of targeted preparation and field-based experiences in supporting inclusive teaching readiness.

A Granularity-Centered Taxonomy Of Personalized Federated Learning, Ei Ei Nyein Chan, Sergei Chuprov, Pretom Roy Ovi, Kamrul Hasan

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Personalized Federated Learning (PFL) has emerged as a key approach to address performance degradation in FL systems under heterogeneous client data. While existing surveys typically categorize PFL methods based on optimization strategies or system-level mechanisms, they often overlook a fundamental question: where is personalization embedded within the model architecture? In this survey, we bridge this knowledge gap and introduce a granularity-centered taxonomy that organizes PFL approaches according to the structural depth of personalization, ranging from head-layer and layer-wise adaptation to model-wise and parameter-wise customization. This novel perspective helps practitioners select appropriate personalization strategies based on model architecture, data heterogeneity, and …

The Screening Tool Of Behavioral Self-Regulation “Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders” Task: A Preliminary Adaptation To Greek Older Adults, Eleni Rachanioti, Dimitra Magkavila, Olga Fragkomichelaki, Magda Dinou, Effie Katsadima, Theodora Foti, Anastasia Tzalla, Anna Dougali, Christina Bourmpou, Maria Staikopoulou, Aphrodite Papantoniou, Fotini Varlami, Irene Dinaki, Maria Tsiountala, Konstantinos Staikopoulos, Tryfon Mavropalias, Efthymia Efthymiou, Demetra Tomprou, Maria Georgiadi, Dimitra Katsarou, Georgios Kougioumtzis, Ioanna Giannoula Katsouri, Harilaos Zaragas, Despina Moraitou, Maria Sofologi, Georgia Papantoniou

All Works

The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders (HTKS) behavioral self-regulation (executive function) measure in a sample of Greek older population. Specifically, 88 cognitively healthy Greek older adults over the age of 65 participated in the study. The Greek version of HTKS was administered along with the Greek versions of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Raven's Educational CPM, the Number Series (NS) test, the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and the Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS-P). Exploratory factor analysis supported the unidimensional structure of the HTKS. The …

The Inner Motherhood Penalty: The Impact Of Maternal Self-Stereotyping On Decisions To Apply For High-Status Roles, Jaycelin Eyre

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Stereotype-based discrimination creates obstacles for women's representation in high-status roles, and even more for mothers, who experience a motherhood penalty in hiring, evaluation, and promotion. While literature identifies how maternal stereotypes lead to external discrimination, little is known about how maternal self-stereotyping creates barriers to women's representation in high-status roles. Applying self-categorization theory (SCT) and expectancy theory, this paper examines whether maternal self-stereotyping influences women's willingness to apply for high-status roles through work-family conflict (WFC), which reduces the perceived value (valence) of these roles. In a survey, participants (N = 392) rated their willingness to apply for five jobs varying …