Digital Commons Network^™

The Impacts Of Urbanisation On Housing And Infrastructure In Nigeria: Implications For Environmental Sustainability, Nathan Udoinyang, Reuben Daniel, Johnson Aborivwighre Iteku, Edna Abibetu Abidde, Salami Hope E, Violet Abieyuwa Imariagbontua, Okose Faith Nneka

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

This study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods to collect and analyse data on urbanisation and its impact on housing and infrastructure in Nigeria. A survey of 400 households in urban areas of Nigeria was conducted, and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, including government officials, urban planners, and community leaders, were held. Secondary data were also obtained from existing sources, such as the National Bureau of Statistics and the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. The study found that urbanisation has led to a housing shortage, increased housing costs, and inadequate infrastructure development in Nigeria. It also …

The Effect Of Morphological Transformations On The Emergence Of Complex Urban Systems: The Historical Karkh Urban Systems In Baghdad Is A Ase Study, Sara Abdul Aalie Rasheed, Wahda Shuker Al-Hinkawi

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

Cities emerge as multi-component urban systems that exhibit complexity and synergy and are shaped by morphological transformations in their structural composition. From here, the research idea was launched to demonstrate the role of morphological transformations in the emergence of urban systems with multiple characteristics and their integration to form the complex urban system. The research aims to demonstrate the impact of transformations on the emergence of the complex urban system, a fundamental characteristic of the city's growth and development, which comprises different urban structures that arise over time. The research adopted a qualitative descriptive-analytical approach and applied it to a …

Integrating Business Process Reengineering (Bpr) With Interior Design: An Innovative Approach For Bisb Bank Design, Maroa Salim Khalfan Al Abri, Mohamed Faisal Al-Kazee

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

The demand for Business Process Reengineering (BPR) has grown, prompting efforts to integrate BPR with interior design to address key needs such as spatial layout, organizational processes, user collaboration, and workflow. The research examines BPR from an academic perspective, emphasizing its integration with interior design and illustrating the project's design stages in an advanced interior design studio. It highlights a designer's role in offering practical solutions for BPR in bank interiors. The study describes the BisB Bank design as an innovative project in the Interior Design II Studio and identifies 13 principles for the integration approach. These principles encompass spatial …

The Impact Of The Design Characteristics Of Media Architecture On The Activation Of Urban Space, Hanan Dhiyaa Hussein, Inaam A. Al-Bazzaz, Ammar Salim Dawood

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

The research explores the relationship between the design characteristics of media architecture and their impact on activating urban space, focusing on the role of interactive technologies and the extent to which they enhance visual comfort and stimulate social interaction. The research problem was represented by (the lack of a clear conception of the impact of the design characteristics of media architecture on activating urban space). The research objective was to develop an integrated theoretical model to identify indicators of how media architecture's design characteristics influence the activation of urban space. The research relied on a descriptive-analytical-comparative approach to compare selected …

Advanced Glass Between Technology & Ideology, Enas Salim Abdulahaad, Oday Abaas Abood

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

Advances in glass technology have radically transformed contemporary architecture, highlighting the research problem of ``The Ambiguity of Advanced Glass' Position in Twenty-First-Century Architecture.'' The research aims to uncover the transformation of advanced glass from a technological to an ideological dimension. The research hypothesizes that ``contemporary architecture has reshaped its relationship with humans, society, and nature through its use of advanced glass.'' The research adopts a descriptive and analytical methodology based on specialized literature and global and regional architectural practices, revealing the technical characteristics and symbolic meanings inherent in glass applications. The research concludes that contemporary architecture has redefined its relationship …

Metaphysics Of Parallel Heritage In The Formulation Of The Contemporary Cityscape, Ban Mohammed Sultan, Abbas Ali Hamza Al Greiza

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

In the contemporary globalized world, the metaphysical texts of parallel heritage play a vital role in preserving the identity and privacy of cities with historical cores by conveying both the authenticity of the past and the spirit of the age in architectural production. The research problem addresses a cognitive deficiency in reading the metaphysics of parallel heritage within the urban landscape of Haifa Street, proposing it as a text that mediates between heritage and contemporaneity. The research hypothesizes that these metaphysical texts contain a creative core that functions as a future-oriented cognitive model. Using a descriptive–analytical approach, the study analyzes …

Innovations In Child-Friendly Walkway Design: A Comparative Study Of Urban Parks In Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, And Duhok, Ashna Abdulqader Hussein, Ameer Sulaiman Mohammed

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

The Urban Park walkways design significantly influences children's access, engagement, and safety in public parks, where design practices usually prioritize physical form over user experience. This study addresses the absence of a contextually informed framework for evaluating child-friendly walkway innovations in three urban parks: Sami Abdulrahman Park (Erbil), Azadi Park (Sulaymaniyah), and Azadi Park (Duhok). Using field observations, feature mapping, and interviews, the research evaluates walkways based on accessibility, engagement, and spatial design efficiency. Findings indicate that Erbil presents a multifunctional design, though it lacks tactile cues; Sulaymaniyah offers a natural aesthetic but limited engagement opportunities, and Duhok features smaller-scale …

Neo-Moorish Style In Constantine Through Cirta Hôtel: Architectonic Details, Heritage, And Contemporary Perspectives, Imene Bensid, Islam Boukhelkhal, Souad Belhannachi, Halima Gherraz

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

The neo-Moorish architectural style, appearing in early 20th-century Algeria, marks a defining moment in the country's colonial and post-colonial architectural path. Blending North African traditions with European design, it reflects the layered dialogue between cultural heritage and colonial influence. This study examines Constantine—focusing on the Hôtel Cirta—to trace how neo-Moorish architecture took shape within the urban fabric. By analyzing arches, ornamental motifs, and material choices, the research illustrates how the building negotiates historical identity with modern function. Drawing on architectural and historical sources, the study situates the Hôtel Cirta within broader urban and symbolic contexts, arguing that neo-Moorish architecture was …

Geospatial Assessment Of Urban Expansion And Green Area Decline In Karbala Using Machine Learning: Supporting The Achievement Of Sdgs, Doaa Taha Yaseen, Oday Zakariya Jasim

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

Urban sprawl is a major challenge to sustainable development. This research examines geospatial patterns of urban growth and vegetation cover reduction in the Karbala District between 2017 and 2024. Sentinel-2 satellite imagery classification using a Support Vector Machine (SVM) model was evaluated, and accuracy was assessed using confusion matrices and a comparative evaluation against the Esri Sentinel Land Cover dataset. The SVM approach provided better classification precision. The change-detection analysis shows that the conversion of green and cultivated lands into built-up areas is significant. Although there has been an expansion of pivot-irrigated areas in other districts of the Karbala Governorate, …

The Impact Of Thermal Insulation On Carbon Emissions Assessment: A Comparison Between Vernacular And 3d-Printed Buildings In Hot And Arid Climates, Yahya Khalid Jubear, Yahya Ibraheem

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

This study explores the environmental performance of 3D-printed concrete (3DPC) walls integrated with thermal insulation materials, compared with conventional walls constructed from local clay bricks, in the hot-dry climate of Baghdad, Iraq. Despite global advancements in additive manufacturing technologies, local research remains limited—particularly regarding the impact of thermal insulation on the operational carbon emissions of printed buildings. The study aims to evaluate the differences in emissions between traditional and 3D-printed walls using various insulation types, based on the hypothesis that insulated printed walls offer superior environmental performance. Six wall configurations were analysed using energy modelling tools (DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus), including …

Understanding Bim Users' Perspectives On Ar-Bim In 3d Visualization And Modeling Reviews In Jordanian Aec Firms, Sadeer Hel Ajmi Al-Dhaimesh, Nooriati Taib, Syafizal Shahruddin, Zarik Jahan Boghossian

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

This study examines the perspectives of BIM users in Jordanian AEC firms on integrating Augmented Reality (AR) with Building Information Modeling (BIM) to improve 3D visualization and model review. A quantitative approach was employed through a structured questionnaire distributed to 37 BIM firms, which included 394 practitioners in Amman. The survey explored perceptions of AR-BIM benefits, focusing on spatial understanding, collaboration, and error reduction. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between user categories and their views, suggesting that experience influences perceived value. Results highlight that AR-BIM integration enhances project efficiency and streamlines review workflows. The findings provide empirical evidence for …

Urban Stigmergy: A Traceability Approach Towards The Development Of Baghdad, Nada Abdulmueen Hasan, Shireen K. Zedan

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

Interdisciplinary urban research has pointed to finite attempts to the fact apply and develop stigmergic approaches the concept has not gained widespread acceptance in the field of urban design despite paving the way for significant opportunities and possibilities for city development, thus the research framework represent the concept of stigmergy within a specific approach to traceability impact which stimulates stigmergic behavior in the urban environment, and results in the generation of a set of urban development mechanisms the research objective focuses on exploring the mechanisms of the traceability approach within urban stigmergy scenarios and their role in the development of …

Spatial Integration, Human Density, And Land-Use Dynamics In Traditional Urban Areas: A Space Syntax Analysis Of Old Rusafa, Baghdad, Aya F. Alobaydi, Dhirgham Alobaydi, Sally F. Abdullah

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

Urban morphology is a key aspect in the development of socially sustainable environments, especially in traditional areas, whereby it is directly related to cultural identity. `Old Rusafa' is a traditional area where this investigation will be implemented. It addresses issues of population density and land-use transformation. The research aims to address a research gap by quantitatively evaluating the interrelationships among spatial configuration, human density, and land-use heterogeneity in heritage-based settings. The study is methodologically based on the application of Space Syntax (DepthmapX and QGIS) and statistical analysis using SPSS. Integrated values were calculated at the global (R = n) and …

Budget Fy 2026 - 2027, Swosu Administration

SWOSU Fiscal Year Budgets

No abstract provided.

July 2026, Swosu Rural Health Center

RURAL ROCKS

Rural Health Center

As we prepare to kick off our first semester in the new Jerry & Margaret Hodge College of Pharmacy and Rural Health Center, there is a lot to be excited about! It has been incredible to watch this vision become a reality, and we can't wait to welcome students, faculty, healthcare partners, and community members into a space designed to strengthen rural healthcare across western Oklahoma. The opportunities for collaboration, education, and innovation are endless, and we are especially looking forward to creating more hands-on learning experiences for our students while continuing to build strong partnerships that …

Interpretable Machine Learning Of Plasma Proteomics Reveals Stage-Specific Signatures Across The Alzheimer's Disease Continuum, Hemshankar Laugi

2026 Spring Honors Capstones Projects

Alzheimer’s pathology begins years before clinical symptoms, starting early with amyloid-β accumulation, followed by tau deposition and neurodegeneration. Although existing tools, such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) screening and PET/MRI imaging, can accurately track disease progression, they are invasive, expensive, and not scalable for population-level screening. So, there is a growing interest in using blood-based plasma biomarkers as a scalable alternative. While recent studies demonstrate strong predictive performance with plasma biomarkers, most rely on a small set of canonical blood-based protein biomarkers such as amyloid-β, p-tau, and neurofilament light. These biomarkers primarily reflect downstream brain pathology and may fail to capture …

Mapping Minority Investigative Powers In Congress, David Rapallo

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

“Shut down the Senate . . .” “Roll over and play dead . . .” In the first hundred days of President Donald Trump’s second term, these were the rallying cries of two far ends of a debate among Democrats about how to respond to the administration’s unprecedented actions. This debate, which rages on today, has been marked by a lack of specificity about the various oversight tools available to members of the minority party in Congress, particularly when they investigate whether the Executive Branch is faithfully executing the laws Congress passes. Scholarship too has focused little on the full …

Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy For Hepatocellular Carcinoma Is Associated With Improved Survival After Hepatectomy: A Matched Analysis Of The 2017 To 2022 National Cancer Database, Lawrence Chiang, Adam Bodzin, Daniel Lin, Nader Hanna, Scott Koeneman, Hien Dang, Charles J. Yeo, Christopher Shubert, R. Zheng

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Background: Effects of neoadjuvant immunotherapy (NIT) before liver resection are not well-described in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Survival and R0 resection rates in HCC patients undergoing curative-intent resection with or without NIT were evaluated.

Methods: A retrospective study of stage I-III HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy from the 2017–2022 National Cancer Database was performed. Patients receiving NIT were exactly matched 1:3 to non-NIT patients by clinical stage. Primary outcomes were margin positivity, 30- and 90-day mortality, and overall survival.

Results: After matching 510 patients, 97 received NIT and 291 did not (non-NIT). Resections included segmental (178, 45.9%), lobar (149, 38.4%), and extended …

Making Ai Interesting And Safe For K-6 Students, Anshi Moreno Jimenez, Fred Klein, Mason Dong, Kunal Jain, Jasmine Gu, Yuanheng Mao

Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute Publications

This group project explores strategies for making artificial intelligence engaging, educational, and safe for K-6 students. The project addresses concerns associated with irresponsible AI use, including risks to children, unnecessary use of natural resources and computing power, and the development of unproductive AI habits. It presents classroom activities designed to help young students understand AI as a technology rather than simply a toy. One activity uses AI-generated images to encourage creativity, clear communication, critical analysis, collaboration, and reflection on the computational costs and limitations of generative AI. A second activity, “AI Detective,” teaches students to critically evaluate AI-generated responses for …

Two Years Of Ocrelizumab Treatment In Black And Hispanic People With Multiple Sclerosis In Chimes: A Single-Arm Clinical Trial, Lilyana Amezcua, Anthony Reder, Evanthia Bernitsas, Nancy Monson, Timothy Vartanian, Gregory Wu, Mansoor Saleh, Annette Okai, Ahmed Obeidat, Dilraj Sokhi

Haematology and Oncology, East Africa

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ocrelizumab in self-identified black and Hispanic people with relapsing multiple sclerosis.

Methods The Characterization of Ocrelizumab in Minorities with Multiple Sclerosis (CHIMES) trial, a prospective, open-label, single-arm, phase 4 study, intentionally recruited underrepresented populations in the US, Puerto Rico, and Kenya. Black and Hispanic people with relapsing multiple sclerosis aged 18–65 years with Expanded Disability Status Scale score 0–5.5 received ocrelizumab for 2 years. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants with no evidence of disease activity in 3 components at week 48: protocol-defined relapse, 24-week confirmed disability progression, and disease …

Sdg 4.1.1 Minimum Proficiency Levels. Definition And Blueprint For Assessment, Prue Anderson, Andrew Mannion, Ursula Schwantner, Maurice Walker, Colin Watson, Toby Simmer

Global education monitoring

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 aims to ensure that, by 2030, “all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.” The primary indicator 4.1.1 concerns the proficiency of girls and boys in two learning areas (reading and mathematics) at three stages of education: at the end of lower primary, at the end of primary, and at the end of lower secondary. Large-scale learning assessments are essential tools to capture data on learning outcomes and to provide system-level evidence on education quality and equity. In the context of SDG 4, …

Examining The Relationship Between Trauma-Informed Safety Drill Practices And School-Level Chronic Absenteeism In Maine Secondary Schools, Tina Nightingale

Dissertations

School safety practices can influence students' perceptions of safety, emotional well-being, and engagement in the educational environment; however, limited research has examined whether trauma-informed safety drill practices are associated with measurable educational outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative, non-experimental, correlational study was to examine the relationship between trauma-informed safety drill practices and school-level chronic absenteeism in Maine middle and high schools. Guided by trauma-informed care, adolescent neurodevelopment, and Protection Motivation Theory, the study investigated whether higher levels of trauma-informed implementation of safety drills, as measured by the Trauma-Informed Safety Drill Practices Index (TISDPI), were associated with lower rates of chronic …

Exploring Primary Care Providers’ Compassionate Care And Their Evidence-Based Practice With Death, Grief, And Loss: Patient Experience And Perspective, Kathryn Krzykala

Dissertations

Research on primary care providers’ (PCPs) education regarding Death, Grief, and Loss (DGL) remains limited. Specifically, data is lacking regarding patients' perceptions and opinions on what they need and expect from their PCPs regarding grief and loss. This exploratory mixed-method study comprised 146 participants who had experienced death and non-death loss. It examined participants' perceptions of 1) PCP compassion, 2) PCP utilization of evidence-based grief and loss practices, 3) their own level of comfort discussing DGL with their PCPs during medical visits, and 4) their personal grief and loss experiences. The findings revealed that PCPs' grief-informed evidence-based treatment, as reflected …

Implementing Student Choice Through Social-Emotional Learning To Support Independence And Motivation In Elementary Education, Allison Sloan

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Most people feel more motivated and invested in the work they are doing when they have a voice in the matter. This remains true for elementary students with their school work. This capstone paper analyzes and compares research articles to answer the guiding question: How can classroom strategies grounded in SEL and student choice promote independence while supporting diverse learning needs? The guiding question and project were created due to a noticeable lack of choice being represented and provided in elementary classrooms. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between student choice, social-emotional learning, and student independence …

Finding The Confidence To Speak: Reducing Public Speaking Anxiety In Secondary English Students, Nickolas Johnson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Public speaking is an essential academic, professional, and civic skill, yet many secondary students experience anxiety when asked to speak in front of peers and when assigned a presentation. This capstone project explored the question: How can secondary English language arts teachers develop methods to decrease anxiety around students who struggle with public speaking? The end result of this project is a Google Site resource guide that is designed for secondary English language arts teachers. The site provides background information on public speaking anxiety in the classroom, a bank of low-stakes speaking activities that can be used independently or in …

How Mentoring Can Close The Gender Gap In Post-Secondary Education, Jared Hinkley

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project was to examine the causes of the post-secondary enrollment gap between young men and women and create a curriculum that uses mentoring to help narrow the divide. The research question: How could mentoring for middle-school-aged males help narrow the post-secondary enrollment gap between boys and girls? was developed after self-reflection on my own middle school experiences, as well as reading well-documented support showing the need for male guidance, especially for young men. The literature reveals that school-based mentoring programs typically show limited success compared to community-based mentoring. However, some school-based mentoring focused on task-oriented goals …

Authentic Material Use In English Language Development Classrooms, Kenneth Fields

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

With attention on the topic of globalization at an all time high, more and more focus has been shifted towards student-centric, evidence-based approaches for second language education. In order to address the perceived need of more culturally-centered content, this project attempts to answer the question: What are the benefits of using authentic materials over grammar-based texts and how can authentic materials be implemented into low-proficiency ELD classrooms? Authentic materials, or materials created by native language speakers not for the purposes of L2 education, have been gaining more popularity among educational researchers as second language acquisition theories have begun to favor …

Understanding The Structural Drivers Of Useful Exergy Intensity, João Santos, Tiago Domingos, Tânia Sousa, Matthew Kuperus Heun, André Serrenho

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Energy-Economy Decomposition Analysis Across 112 Countries 1971-2020

Supported Decision-Making And The Inclusion Of People Who Lack Decisional Capacity In Greater Than Minimal Risk Research, Aaron Eli Segal, David Wendler, Dana Howard

Faculty and Staff Publications

In recent years, some have argued that supported decision-making can be ethically superior to surrogate decision-making with respect to decisions involving adults with cognitive and intellectual impairments or disabilities. In this paper, we argue that supported decision-making could also be ethically superior to surrogate decision-making in the context of clinical research that involves greater than minimal net risks. In current practice, adults who lack decisional capacity are often excluded from research that involves greater than minimal net risks (call this the minimal risk requirement). While this approach is intended to protect them, it can be ethically problematic, in part because …

Replacing Surrogate Decision-Making With Supported Decision-Making For Minimal Risk Research, Jennifer Hawkins, Aaron Eli Segal, David Wendler, Dana Howard

Faculty and Staff Publications

We advocate for a change in the way individuals with cognitive impairment are enrolled in minimal risk clinical research. We do so in the hope that such a change will lead to more cognitively impaired individuals being enrolled in research. Our proposal applies only to cases where would-be participants retain some interest in decision-making as well as the ability to express a decision. In these cases, we argue that the common practice whereby researchers either obtain consent from the individual or consent from a surrogate and assent from the individual, is ethically unnecessary. Instead, a process of facilitated decision-making based …