Digital Commons Network^™

A Spectral Approach To Join Based Operations On Graphs, S. Sripriya, A. Anuradha

Baghdad Science Journal

The success of Spectral Graph Theory is due to its immense applications in several fields of science and technology. The parameter `graph energy' plays a significant role in the Hückel Molecular Orbital Theory, where it is used to approximate the total π -electron energy of conjugated hydrocarbons. Several modified versions of the energy parameter have been defined by many researchers depending on the context. This study explores the spectral characteristics and energy distributions associated with selected graph operations derived from the first Zagreb, second Zagreb, and sum-connectivity matrices. When the adjacency matrix provides information only on the existence of a …

Reducing Unreliability Of Complex Systems By Numerical Optimization: A Hybrid Approach, Fouad Hamza Abd Alsharify, Ahmed Hasan Alridha, Zahir Al-Khafaji

Baghdad Science Journal

This paper investigates the effectiveness of numerical optimization techniques in enhancing the reliability of complex systems. The main objective of the study is to reduce the unreliability of complex systems by narrowing the range of component unreliability, thereby reducing the probability of system failure and achieving stability and robustness in the reliability of complex systems. The technique for this task involves formulating the problem as a multi-objective numerical optimization problem under specified constraints using Particle Swarm Optimization and Simulated Annealing algorithms, as well as a hybrid approach combining the two algorithms. The multi-objective optimization techniques were applied to a more …

A New Numerical Approach For Solving Caputo-Fabrizio Fractional Differential Equations, Manoj Kumar

Baghdad Science Journal

In this paper, we present a novel numerical scheme for solving fractional-order differential equations of the form ^CFD_t^η ψ ( t ) = f( t,ψ ( t ) ),ψ ( 0 ) = ψ ₀,0 < η < 1,t∈[ 0,T ], where ^CFD_t^η denotes the Caputo-Fabrizio derivative operator. Further, we establish the stability and error analysis of the proposed scheme. We also extend this scheme for solving systems of fractional differential equations. Furthermore, we perform the several numerical simulations and present the results graphically. The obtained solutions are compared with those achieved through the well-known methods such as fractional Adams-Bashforth method and a new predictor-corrector method. It has been observed that the proposed method offers greater accuracy than these established methods. Hence, the proposed scheme can be utilized for the simulations of various fractional order differential equations, when the derivatives are considered in the Caputo-Fabrizio sense.

Optimized Fast-Learning Network Model With Smote For University Network Intrusion Detection Systems, Robert Wamusi, Guma Ali, Taban Habibu

Baghdad Science Journal

Traditional Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs) tend to have a high false positive detection rate, are time-consuming to train, and lack the flexibility to react quickly to changing cyber threats, such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks and phishing. Such restrictions decrease the responsiveness and reliability of the IDS services implemented in the university network, both wired and wireless, at the Uganda Christian University (UCU), where network and traffic analysis have become a necessity. This study analyzes the current threat environment of networking at UCU in terms of the type, origin, and target of various attacks to identify gaps in …

Detecting Http Flood Attacks Using 2d Array Summation, Kamal Alieyan, Belal Sudqi Khater, Ayman Ghaben, Mamoun Abu Helou, Waheeb Abu-Ulbeh, Hani Iwidat

Baghdad Science Journal

One of the popular ways of attaching networks and servers is by adopting DDoS (Distributed denial of service). The preferred sector of hacking targeted are online services and networked area with high traffic. Although innovative and modern methods have been developed to mitigate these threats, there is still a need for more effective techniques to detect DDoS HTTP flooding attacks. This paper aims to address this gap by proposing an advanced mathematical approach capable of efficiently handling, processing, and detecting DDoS HTTP flooding attacks. The paper introduces a unique method based on the summation of rows and columns in a …

State Estimation In Indoor Lifi Using Markov Chains: Polar Angle Prediction And Performance Analysis, Mohanad Sarem Almothfar, Alyaa Abdulhussein Al-Joda, Hawraa H. Abbas

Baghdad Science Journal

The reliability of Light-Fidelity (LiFi)-based indoor connectivity depends directly on the device orientation and the non-isotropic nature of the optical wireless communication (OWC) channel. In an actual indoor OWC system, the link quality varies significantly with the receiving orientation of the user equipment (UE). During deep-learning-based tracking, this variability imposes considerable computational overhead on resource-constrained IoT microcontrollers when estimating the user's position and orientation. To solve this problem, we employed a discrete Markov Chain estimator to calculate transition probabilities over 3 × 3 m and 5 × 5 m grids. The simulation and experimental results show that the higher the …

Mitigating Cancer Therapy-Related Cognitive Impairment By Targeted Activation Of Undruggable Phosphatase., Zhimeng Yao, Yuhua Meng, Huanyi Li, Yinhui Jiang, Xiaona Lin, Mengyuan Hu, Qing Liu, Xiaofu Qiu, Hongzheng Ren, Yunlong Pan, Bin Pan, Zexiong Guo, Shuyao Zhang, Dianzheng Zhang, Li Yang, Shegan Gao, Weijing Deng, Jianfan Chen, Hao Zhang

PCOM Scholarly Works

Cancer therapy-related cognitive impairment (CTRCI) is a debilitating neurotoxic condition adversely impacting cancer patients during and post-cancer treatments. The cancer treatments linked to CTRCI include chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Despite CTRCI severely affecting the psychological and social, cognitive functions, and the overall quality of life of cancer survivors, no effective medications are available currently. Our prior studies have indicated hippocampal tyrosine phosphatase protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type O (PTPRO) as a putative target for CTRCI. However, phosphatase is historically considered undruggable, and delivering drugs across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is challenging. Here, we developed a novel delivery …

Under Pressure: Negative Urgency And Disordered Eating In The Context Of Parental Differential Support, Hamide Gozu, Jenna K. Rieder

College of Humanities and Sciences Faculty Papers

Disordered eating behaviors are prevalent in emerging adulthood and may be shaped by family dynamics. This study examined associations among maternal and paternal differential support, weight-shape concerns, and binge eating and compensatory behaviors in emerging adulthood, while testing the moderating role of negative urgency. Participants were 517 emerging adults from across the United States (ages 18-29; M = 22.60, SD = 3.81; 76% female). Participants reported on parental differential support, weight-shape concerns, eating behaviors, and negative urgency. Using moderated-mediation analyses, we found that weight-shape concerns mediated associations between differential support and eating behaviors. Unequal maternal support and paternal favoritism showed …

Understanding The Mechanisms Behind Increased Load Transfer In Bmi-Flcnt Composites Using Molecular Dynamics, Swapnil S. Bamane, Prathamesh P. Deshpande, Aowabin Rahman, Ashley D. Spear, Gregory Odegard

Michigan Tech Publications

Crewed deep-space exploration is a future milestone for the aerospace industry. Such aerospace missions demand ultrastrong, lightweight structural materials to minimize the payload mass. Polymer matrix composites (PMCs) with carbon-based reinforcements, such as carbon fiber, graphene, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), are of primary interest as structural materials for these applications. Although PMCs are lightweight and strong, their mechanical performance is limited to the weak interface region. The interface region can be strengthened by chemical functionalization of the reinforcement materials and covalent cross-linking of the matrix and the reinforcement. Molecular dynamics (MD) offers a platform for computationally investigating the effects of …

Improving Outpatient Provider Preparedness Through Simulation-Based Training: A Quality Improvement Project, Kristina Weyer

DNP Projects

Introduction:
Simulation-based training is an effective educational strategy, particularly for high-acuity, low-frequency events such as patient decompensation in outpatient settings. However, there is a gap in both literature and practice regarding provider participation in simulation, as competing clinical demands often limit engagement. Local organizational leaders identified limited opportunities for outpatient providers to practice management of acute decompensating patients. The purpose of this project was to evaluate provider competence and confidence in managing a decompensating patient in the outpatient setting and to assess perceptions of the value of time spent in simulation.

Methods:
This quality improvement project evaluated providers who participated …

Targeted Nursing Bootcamps For Critical Access Hospital Nurses: A Program Evaluation., Nicholas Popp

DNP Projects

Background: Registered Nurses employed in critical access hospital settings are required to care for patients across the lifespan with varying levels of acuity. The registered nurse (RN) must be competent in providing medical, surgical, pediatric, obstetric, and intensive care-level services. However, the additional training they receive to care for their patients may be minimal or nonexistent, leading them to seek employment at other facilities due to safety concerns. Leadership within the organization believed that implementing targeted monthly nursing skills boot camps could increase nurses’ competence, confidence, and retention in critical access hospital settings.

Aims: This program evaluation project aimed to …

Bridging The Gap: Development And Implementation Of A Caregiver Educational Guide For Post-Lung Transplant Caregivers, Megan Aller

DNP Projects

Background: Caregivers of post-lung transplant recipients play a critical role in postoperative recovery, as patients require continuous support during the first three months after transplant. Despite this responsibility, caregivers frequently experience burden, stress, and challenges adapting to the complex demands of the caregiving role.

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a tailored caregiver education and support guide for caregivers of lung transplant recipients.

Local Problem: Within the local transplant program, caregiver education primarily relied on verbal instruction with limited caregiver-specific take-home resources.

Methods: This quality improvement project used a two-group pretest–posttest design to evaluate the …

Integrated Construction Uncertainty Quantification Framework Icuqf, Felix Delmonte

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

This study develops ICUQF, an integrated uncertainty framework for digitally instrumented construction megaprojects that unite probabilistic simulation, fuzzy reasoning, Bayesian networks, AI-driven anomaly detection, BIM-linked digital twins, and organizational learning into a single operational architecture. The framework classifies uncertainty into aleatory variability, epistemic gaps, data-centric and model-centric risks, and cognitive or cultural sources, mapping each class to computational treatments such as Monte Carlo engines for stochastic variability, fuzzy intervals and p-boxes for imprecise expert judgments, and hierarchical Bayesian models for coherent evidence aggregation and online updating. ICUQF specifies data pipelines that connect IoT sensing, edge processing, cloud storage, and Common …

Editors' Introduction

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

No abstract provided.

Full Issue 20.1

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

No abstract provided.

Genocide In Gaza? Social Media Discussions Of Violence In Israel And Gaza, Timothy Williams, Andreas Dafnos

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

This article conducts social network and topic analyses of German-language posts on X that discuss genocide and terrorism in Israel and Gaza in the first six months after the October 7 attacks and compares these to broader English-language discourses on the platform. The comparison reveals subtle differences in how Israeli violence and governance and Palestinians are discussed and who is seen as complicit in supporting violence. Markedly, German-language posts discuss what constitutes antisemitism more and employ a more restrained language towards Israel as a state and its political actors than English-language posts. We tie these findings back to the idiosyncrasies …

Genocidal Criminology: My Testimony, Yarin Eski

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

This article is a testimony on the entanglement of my personal biography, responsibility, and lived experience of genocide denial and, subsequently, developing criminologies of genocide and its denial, based on my formative experiences, ranging from encountering Armenian genocide denial as a student, to dealing with institutional constraints and careerism, to my academic activism, raising awareness about the Gaza genocide, to, finally, prospecting genocide and ecocide in outer space: astrocide. These experiences configure a genealogy of what I term genocidal criminology that unpacks and criticizes criminological knowledge, institutions, and practices that produce genocide (denial), both epistemically and structurally. Essentially, I argue …

Arts & Literature: Gaza And The Question Of Prevention—An Interview With Bruce Robbins, Luis Gonzalez-Aponte

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Preoperative Education Modalities For Orthopedic Surgery Patients, Hannah Johnson

DNP Projects

Effective preoperative education is essential as total joint arthroplasty (TJA) procedures shift to outpatient care, yet traditional education methods may not be meeting patients’ diverse learning styles. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to evaluate the impact of multimodal preoperative education (in-person, virtual, hybrid video modules, or a combination) on patient-reported anxiety and discharge readiness, as well as length of stay (LOS), surgical site infections (SSIs), and 30-day readmissions. The in-person portion could not be implemented due to staffing constraints. The pre-post evaluation was conducted with a sample of 273 patients undergoing elective hip and knee arthroplasty (pre …

Bridging The Gap: Empowering Primary Care Providers With Nonpharmalogical Strategies For Adhd Management, Grace Sawyer

DNP Projects

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects many adults and children and is commonly managed with pharmaceutical drugs. Although evidence supports the use of nonpharmacological, many providers may not know or have the confidence to use these modalities to incorporate these into practice. This educational gap could contribute to an overreliance on medication when there are other options available for comprehensive ADHD care.  This quality improvement pretest-posttest design aimed to bridge the gap in provider knowledge and confidence regarding evidence-based nonpharmacological ADHD management at two college health clinics.  The intervention consisted of four pre-recorded modules delivered over four weeks that focused on exercise, …

Registered Nurse Procedural Sedation In Operating Room: An Analysis Of Patient Safety And Nurse Confidence Efficacy Of 2 Years Post Implementation, Cassandra Fredrickson

DNP Projects

Background
A Midwest hospital implemented a registered nurse (RN) procedural sedation program to provide safe, cost-effective sedation for selected operating room procedures under physician supervision, improving patient access while optimizing anesthesia resources.

Methods
A retrospective descriptive program evaluation examined 1,117 patients who received RN-administered procedural sedation for vascular and neurovascular procedures during 2022 and 2024. Outcomes included anesthesia consultation, anesthesia takeover, reversal agent use, and adverse events. Patient demographics and procedure duration were analyzed. Six procedural sedation nurses completed a self-efficacy survey assessing confidence in sedation-related competencies. Descriptive statistics and qualitative review of adverse event narratives were performed.

Results
Among …

K-12 Teachers’ Perspectives On The Adoption Of Virtual Reality And Augmented Reality Technology In Classroom Instruction, Breanna Mckenley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this basic qualitative study was that although some K–12 teachers have access to virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies, these tools are not widely accepted or adopted for classroom instruction. Guided by the technology acceptance model, the purpose of the study was to explore K–12 teachers’ perspectives on their willingness to incorporate VR/AR, the perceived usefulness and ease of use of these technologies, and the challenges they encounter or anticipate during the adoption process. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 K-12 teachers from public, charter, and private schools in the United States who had …

Investigating Nanoparticle Capture By Condensed Phase Coacervates And Their Mixtures, Sanjna A. Bhakta

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

The thermoresponsive polymers elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) have served as a programmable bioseparation tool for applications in nanoparticle capture due to biocompatibility and tunable properties. This work investigates how the polymer composition of ELP and PNIPAM coacervates influences their phase behavior, structural morphology, and nanoparticle recruitment. In addition, the influence of interfacial interactions in nanoparticle recruitment using Tween 80 as a mechanistic probe was also investigated. Different mixtures of ELPs E1.40, E1.80, and E3 with PNIPAM14 and PNIPAM20 were used to characterize their phase behavior and analyze structural morphology using turbidity measurements and microscopy, respectively. Nanobead recruitment using …

Directed Searches For Gravitational Waves From Ultralight Vector Boson Clouds Around Merger Remnant And Galactic Black Holes During The First Part Of The Fourth Ligo-Virgo-Kagra Observing Run, A. G. Abac, I. Abouelfettouh, Teviet Creighton, Mario C. Diaz, Raul Alberto Espinosa Perez, J. Lawrence, Francisco Llamas Villarreal, Soma Mukherjee, Volker Quetschke, Miriam Ramos Arevalo, Wenhui Wang

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We present the first directed searches for long-transient and continuous gravitational waves from ultralight vector boson clouds around known black holes (BHs). We use LIGO data from the first part of the fourth LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA observing run. The searches target two distinct types of BHs and use two new semicoherent methods: hidden Markov model (HMM) tracking for the remnant BHs of the mergers GW230814_230901 and GW231123_135430 (referred to as GW230814 and GW231123 in this study) and a dedicated method using the Band Sampled Data (BSD) framework for the galactic BH in the Cygnus X-1 binary system. Without finding evidence of a …

Surveyception: An Exploration Of Deceptive Survey Forms, Muhammad Danish

Computer Science ETDs

Survey platforms such as Google Forms and Microsoft Forms are widely used for feedback, data collection, and engagement, but scammers increasingly exploit them to distribute phishing and deceptive attacks. This thesis presents a large-scale study of survey-form abuse across ten major providers. We collected 140,000 forms from three sources: public posts on X, search-engine results, and web pages from the top 10 million DomCop-ranked domains. Using automated filtering and manual qualitative review, we identified 2,645 forms requesting sensitive information and classified 566 as scams. These forms used techniques including phishing, private-secret theft, account and personal-data harvesting, financial deception, and psychological …

Metastatic Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: A Rare Cause Of Hypopituitarism, Smriti Nair, Taskeen Ahmed, Jessica Watari

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

Pituitary metastases from pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) are exceedingly rare but should be considered in patients presenting with arginine vasopressin deficiency and panhypopituitarism in the context of known or suspected metastatic lung cancer. Early recognition and prompt initiation of hormonal replacement therapy are essential to prevent life-threatening endocrine crises and to improve symptom burden. We describe a case of a 43-year-old male who presented with dyspnea, weight loss, and weakness who was found to have metastatic LCNEC involving the liver. Endocrine evaluation revealed central hypothyroidism, central adrenal insufficiency, and later arginine vasopressin deficiency manifested by polyuria and hypernatremia. …

Spherical Video–Based Vr Training For Nurses' Workplace Violence Management, Wen-Chii Tzeng, Yen-Yin Lin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Workplace violence is a major global public health concern that undermines the physical safety, psychological well-being, and professional performance of nurses. Effective responses require increased sensitivity to environmental cues and interpersonal dynamics. However, nurses' workplace violence management cannot be cultivated through classroom instruction or text-based materials alone. This gap necessitates innovative, sustainable, and immersive learning approaches.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, and acceptability of a spherical video–based virtual reality training programme aimed at helping nurses manage workplace violence.

Methods: A convergent mixed-methods study was employed. This study included nurses from a tertiary medical centre in Taiwan. The training …

Save A Pulse: Bridging Nurse Confidence And Team Performance Through In-Situ Simulation, Kimberly Morrison, Anna Oh, Zainab Alzawad, Staeci Morita, Sean Garvey, Soo Young Lee

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) directly influences cardiac arrest survival, yet many hospitals struggle to achieve consistent performance. Although simulation-based training is widely used, confidence may not reliably align with proficiency for physically demanding CPR skills. Save a Pulse, a Rapid Response nurse-led in-situ simulation program, was developed to strengthen nurses' cardiac arrest response using structured team training and objective feedback. This study aimed to assess nurses' confidence and CPR performance using a multimethod assessment of self-reported confidence, facilitator observations, and SimPAD® metrics.

This 13-month pretest-posttest study occurred across 23 inpatient units at a large academic hospital. Shockable and nonshockable scenarios …

West Coast Workshop To Southwest Institute, Hannah Marie Cerne

Art & Art History ETDs

This thesis considers Tamarind Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico (originally established as Tamarind Lithography Workshop in Los Angeles, CA), and its contributions to collaborative printmaking. Originally founded in 1960 by June Wayne with Clinton Adams and Garo Antreasian, Tamarind Lithography Workshop (the precursor to Tamarind Institute) revitalized lithography through structured collaboration between artists and master printers, alongside rigorous training programs. This thesis provides an institutional history of the workshop during its relocation to the University of New Mexico, highlighting its transformation into a university-based institute that integrated education and professional production. Using social and labor-based methodologies, this study analyzes how …

Mapping Along-Strike Changes In Shallow Subduction Zone Geometry At The Alaska Subduction Zone Using Seismic Reflection And Tectono-Geomorphic Analysis, Madelyn K. Hurd

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The Alaska subduction zone, where the oceanic Pacific plate subducts beneath the continental North American plate at a rate of 60-66 mm/yr, has hosted more >M8 earthquakes over the last century than any other subduction zone globally. The largest of these, the 1964 M9.2 Alaska earthquake, ruptured 800 km of the margin, including a high slip patch near the trench offshore Kodiak Island. The 1964 rupture area may have overlapped with the 1938 M8.3 Semidi earthquake rupture zone that lies to the west. Slip propagation near the subduction trench during large earthquakes can control tsunamigenesis, and differences in wedge geometry …