Digital Commons Network^™

Examining The Potential Implications Of The African Continental Free Trade Area On Intra-Comesa Trade, Stein Masunda, Gabriel Mhonyera

Journal of African Trade

This article uses the structured gravity model to examine the potential effects of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on trade within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region. The results show that liberalising trade through the AfCFTA has the potential effect of increasing intra-COMESA trade 1.96 times. Trade diversion is bound to occur with extra-COMESA imports expected to increase by 1.32 times.  However, the formation of the AfCFTA is important for COMESA as it leads to an overall improvement in intra-COMESA trade by 88.89%. Furthermore, the results show pure trade creation effects, in terms of …

How Equity Changes, Samuel L. Bray

Public Law and Legal Theory Working Papers

In Trump v. CASA, the Supreme Court decisively rejected universal injunctions and offered a major decision about the law of equity. This Article grapples with a central question raised by CASA: if equity is not static, then what counts as legitimate innovation? This Article argues (1) that equity, in order to perform its functions, must have the capacity to innovate; (2) that any innovation should be in keeping with those functions and with equity’s own principles; and (3) that the primary stewards of the law of equity are the courts, not Congress. The vulnerabilities of Grupo Mexicano on these points …

2025-2026 Lynn University Common Data Set, Lynn University

Lynn University Common Data Set

2025-2026 Lynn University Common Data Set (CDS), prepared by Lynn University Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment (AY2526).

One-Stop-Shop (Oss): Community Health Nursing: (For Undergraduate Nurses), Sarmad Muhammad Soomar

Books

No abstract provided.

Should I Have Held Your Hand Or Can You Hold Your Own?: The Growing Confusion Over The Copyright Powers Songwriters Maintain Over Their Works, Mark Galinovsky

Cardozo Law Review de•novo

As online streaming and digital downloads continue to dominate the music business, songwriters are increasingly left to fight each other for tiny cuts of the profits. Additionally, a lack of consistent judicial rules and standards when adjudicating copyright infringement claims make litigation results uncertain, causing even potentially victorious defendants to agree to expensive settlements and frivolous grants of songwriting credits. This Note argues that in order to protect the future creative output of the music industry, judges and legislators should prioritize the dwindling power songwriters have over control of their original works of authorship.

Dupilumab For The Treatment Of Prurigo Nodularis, Iain Noel Encarnacion, Noelle Desir, Simona A. Alomary, Nicole Baker

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic, intensely pruritic dermatosis driven by neural and immune dysregulation, with historically limited FDA-approved treatment options. In September 2022, dupilumab became the first FDA-approved therapy for PN. To review the clinical efficacy of dupilumab in PN, with emphasis on pivotal clinical trials, real-world evidence, and safety profile. We examined mechanistic studies of dupilumab, early case reports and series, phase 3 LIBERTY-PN PRIME and PRIME2 randomized trials, real world observational studies, and safety data. Dupilumab, a human monoclonal antibody targeting IL-4Rα, suppresses type 2 inflammation. In PRIME (n = 151) and PRIME2 (n = 160), dupilumab …

Implementation Of A Pressure Injury Prevention Bundle To Reduce Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries In The Intensive Care Unit, Xibo Lan

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose

The goal of this quality improvement project was to utilize the SKINSAFE pressure injury prevention bundle during 12 weeks of implementation to increase evidence-based pressure injury prevention practices adherence and decrease risk of hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) in the intensive care units (ICU).

Background

ICU patients experience high risk for hospital acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) secondary to immobility and device related pressure. Initial adherence to SKINSAFE bundle was 55-56%. There was inconsistent use of heel offloading devices, wound photography and documentation. Prevention bundles were affected by staffing fluctuations and leadership turnovers.

Methodology

The Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle for this project included …

Facilitating Shared Reading Exposure To Promote Health Outcomes In A Rural Pediatric Primary Care Clinic, Meredith L. Longino

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this scholarly project was to address a gap in early literacy promotion for rural children by incorporating the Reach Out and Read program. This program bolsters foundational literacy by providing a book and anticipatory guidance at every well-child visit from birth through age 5. This project was expected to decrease no-show well-child attendance rates and improve provider morale.

Background

The project was implemented in an established rural pediatric primary care clinic in Northeast Texas. 

Methodology

Process implementation was measured through books distributed and EHR documentation of the intervention. Process objectives were measured by no-show rates for …

Improving Parental Self-Efficacy And Stress Management Among Parenting Youth Experiencing Homelessness: Development And Implementation Of A Standardized Group Parenting Curriculum At An Urban Homeless Shelter, Liam Jerez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose

This quality improvement (QI) project developed and implemented an evidence-informed group parenting curriculum, The Parenting Hub: Mindful Moments (TPHMM), at an urban youth shelter, aiming to increase parental self-efficacy by 20% and decrease parental stress by 20% among homeless parenting youth.

Background

Nearly half (49%) of 18–24-year-olds in families experiencing homelessness are parents, often facing low parenting confidence, limited support, and high stress. The project site, serving up to 150 youths, with a fluctuating number of young parents, lacked a standardized parenting curriculum.

Methodology

This pre-/post-test QI pilot used the Model for Improvement; Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles refined delivery in the …

Modelling Probabilistic Digital Twins Of Complex Inland Waterway Transportation Systems Using Bayesian Networks, Alexandra Micu, Lorcan Connolly, Alan O’Connor, Eugene O’Brien, Caitriona De Paor

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

The Horizon Europe Project, ReNEW, uses the digital twin concept to simulate and model the complexity and interdependencies of the Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) system. This concept is used to design novel strategies to ensure network functionality despite climate change impacts on IWT. A digital twin is an accurate copy of a real object/item/system with associated characteristics in the digital world. Digital twin models can be developed using physics or statistics or combining the two. They can be used for simulation, classification, prediction, optimization, and more. This work proposes probabilistic digital twin modelling of complex IWT networks using Bayesian networks. …

Resilience Of Transport And Associated Infrastructure To Climate, Cyber And Physical Threats, Lorcan Connolly, Caitriona De Paor, Alexandra Micu, Alan O’Connor

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

The effects of climate change regularly impact the performance of transport networks. In the case of road transport, climate change has various impact drivers such as heat, cold, wind, snow, ice etc. which hamper safe and reliable operation. Due to the interdependent nature of critical infrastructures (CI), resilience assessment requires a whole stakeholder approach which engages not only transport operators, but also the various other infrastructures within a geographical area. This paper initially outlines the ICARUS project which aims to deliver a common approach for National Road Authorities (NRAs) in addressing the resilience of road infrastructure to Climate Change. Results …

Virtuous Narrative Ethics For Accommodation Or Refusal Of Ai For Sustainability, Paul Hayes, Noel Fitzpatrick

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

AI for good, and AI for sustainability projects, are being developed by often well-meaning innovators across the world, intending to support initiatives in sustainable development. Some such projects have been positioned within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals. In this paper, we critically engage with this phenomenon using a virtue-based Ricoeurian narrative philosophy. Through conceptual analysis and normative argumentation, we make a theoretical contribution to scholarship on this topic. We argue that SDGs could be regarded as internationally agreed high-order end-norms that crystallise values considered to constitute the good life. We argue for exercising caution in applying SDGs as …

Impact Of Pretreatment On Iodine Content In Laminaria Digitata Assessed By Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry, Cíara Kenny, Róisín Burke, Catherine Barry-Ryan

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Seaweeds, particularly Laminaria digitata , are a rich source of iodine, essential for thyroid function, but excessive intake poses health risks. This study evaluates the impact of processing methods, including washing, blanching, boiling, dehydration, and rehydration, on iodine levels to optimise its safe consumption through controlled processing. The washed baseline sample contained 154.5 mg/kg DW (50.2 mg/kg FW) iodine, providing the reference point for calculating percentage reductions and increases. Blanching reduced iodine by 46.1% (1 min) and 69.8% (3 min), while boiling for 20 min led to a 49.5% reduction. In contrast, dehydration concentrated iodine, reaching 317.4 mg/kg (20 min), …

Identifying And Defining Kickout Strategies In Senior Inter-County Ladies Gaelic Football, Aoife Mccolgan, Jonathan Bradley, Denise Earle, David Gaul, Denise Martin

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

The kickout has become a key source of possession in Ladies Gaelic Football (LGF), with successful teams winning 80% of their own and 29% of the opposition kickouts (KO). Several investigators have alluded to the role of strategy in Gaelic games; however, none have successfully identified, defined, or measured the impact of these strategies on the game. This novel study aims to identify and define the strategies used by Senior Inter-County LGF teams to win their own and opposition KOs, developing a valid and reliable analysis system to analyse KO performance in LGF. Eighty-nine games (2172 kickouts) from the 2019–2023 …

Teaching Primary And Secondary Computing: A Comparative Study Of Classroom Practices And Resources In The Uk And Ireland, Robert Whyte, Diana Kirby, Elizabeth Cole, Tom Crick, Nicola Looker, Keith Quille, Sue Sentance

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Background and Context: As more K–12 teachers are required to teach computing, there is a need to understand how it is enacted in classrooms. In addition, many non-specialists are teaching computing for the first time. Objective: We set out to better understand how computing is currently being taught across five jurisdictions in the UK and Ireland. The aim of the study was to understand CS teaching practices, including the use of certain approaches and resources in the computing classroom. Method: We analysed survey data from 475 primary and secondary teachers across a number of relevant categories: teachers’ use of CS …

Shining Light On Infection Control: Tio2–Graphene Hybrids As Next-Gen Germicidal Platforms, Mirela Petruta Suchea, Petronela Pascariu, Ioan Valentin Tudose, Maria Orfanou, George Kenanakis, Emmanouel Koudoumas, Stefan Bucur, Ryan Walden, Keerthi M. Nair, Christopher Golden, Mary Heneghan, Suresh C. Pillai, Finn Purcell-Milton, Declan Mccormack

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

The development of next-generation germicidal platforms is a critical response to rising microbial resistance and the global demand for sustainable disinfection technologies. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of hybrid materials based on pure and doped titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and graphene, focusing on their synergistic potential for enhanced germicidal applications. The paper begins with a brief overview of the structural, optical, and electronic properties of TiO₂ and graphene relevant to photocatalysis and antimicrobial activity. Recent advances in TiO₂ bandgap engineering-via doping and nanostructuring-are discussed in connection with improved UV and visible light–driven photocatalytic performance. In parallel, …

Investigating Sex Differences In The Regulation Of Conditioned Morphine Reward By Orexin, Farzana Akter Koly

Psychology Theses

Strong activation of the brain’s reward circuitry by morphine and morphine-associated cues drives the progression toward morphine abuse. Additionally, orexin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) are activated in response to cues paired with morphine reward. The orexin system, particularly the orexin-1 receptor (OX1R) regulates reward-seeking behavior through its activation. Despite the well-established role of orexins in reward-related behaviors, the specific contribution of OX1R in morphine-associated reward remains unclear. Furthermore, while sex differences in drug reward and reward-related behaviors are well documented, they remain unexplored in the regulation of morphine-associated reward by orexins. To address this gap, the present study …

Characterizing Gut Microbial Communities And Symbiont-Mediated Detoxification In Herbivorous Insects, Rachel C. Vargas

Biology Dissertations

Insect gut bacteria are vital contributors to host physiology, yet the broader prevalence and fitness implications of symbiont-mediated detoxification remain poorly understood. This thesis investigates these dynamics across three research chapters. Chapter 1 uses 16S rRNA sequencing to characterize how grasshopper gut microbial communities vary across species, dietary breadths, and gastrointestinal segments. Chapter 2 evaluates the detoxification capacity of over 150 bacterial isolates from diverse herbivores against the plant allelochemicals phenethyl isothiocyanate, rutin, and chlorogenic acid to determine if host dietary specialization predicts microbial metabolic ability. Finally, Chapter 3 employs fitness bioassays to test whether inoculating generalist herbivores with detoxifying …

Sewer Pipe Condition Assessment Using An Ensemble Machine Learning Framework For Infrastructure Decision Support, Mahnaz Rouhi

Civil Engineering Dissertations

Aging wastewater infrastructure presents significant challenges for municipalities across the United States, with many sewer networks approaching or exceeding their design life. Conventional inspection methods, such as closed-circuit television (CCTV), are limited by subjectivity, cost, and inefficiency. To address these challenges, this study develops an ensemble machine learning framework for assessing the structural condition of sewer pipelines using inspection records enriched with geospatial attributes.

The primary objective of this research is to enhance predictive accuracy, interpretability, and decision-support for risk-based asset management. The scope of the study encompasses 4,802 CCTV inspection records from Dallas, TX, and Tampa, FL, integrating physical, …

Videoscoop: A Non-Traditional, Domain-Independent Framework For Video Analysis, Umme Hafsa Billah

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations

Due to the proliferation of cameras in handheld devices and the widespread use of CCTV, images and videos have become a preferred alternative for capturing and disseminating information. Automated analysis for understanding image or video contents (e.g., objects, activities, backgrounds, situations of interest, etc.) is critical for many applications such as Civic Monitoring, Surveillance (in general), monitoring activities in Assisted Living environments, and many more. Image and Video Analysis (IVA) research has been ongoing for several decades, resulting in numerous techniques for algorithmically analyzing and understanding image and video contents.

Image Analysis (IA) has advanced in several areas, including object …

Optimizing Ucs Prediction Models Through Xai-Based Feature Selection In Soil Stabilization, Ahmed Mohammed Awad Mohammed, Omayma Husain, Mosab Hamdan, Abdalmomen Mohammed, Abdullah Ansari, Atef Badr, Abubakar Elsafi, Abubakr Siddig

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) is a key parameter for the assessment of the stability and performance of stabilized soils, yet traditional laboratory testing is both time and resource intensive. In this study, an interpretable machine learning approach to UCS prediction is presented, pairing five models (Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting (GB), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), CatBoost, and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN)) with SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) for enhanced interpretability and to guide feature removal. A complete dataset of 12 geotechnical and chemical parameters, i.e., Atterberg limits, compaction properties, stabilizer chemistry, dosage, curing time, was used to train and test the models. …

Modelling Intermediate Internal Waves With Currents And Variable Bottom, Rossen Ivanov, Lyudmila Ivanova

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

A model for internal interfacial waves between two layers of fluid in the presence of current and variable bottom is studied in the flat-surface approximation. Fluids are assumed to be incompressible and inviscid. Another assumption is that the upper layer is considerably deeper with a lower density than the lower layer. The fluid dynamics is presented in Hamiltonian form with appropriate Dirichlet–Neumann operators for the two fluid domains, and the depth-dependent current is taken into account. The well known integrable Intermediate Long Wave Equation (ILWE) is derived as an asymptotic internal waves model in the case of flat bottom. For …

Adolescent Girls’ Experiences Of Digital Dating Abuse Through Social Media: A Scoping Review, Kiara E. Rodriguez

Social Work Theses

Teen dating violence (TDV) is a prevalent adverse childhood experience with lasting psychological and behavioral consequences. As adolescents increasingly engage with social media, with 95% of teens aged 13-17 reporting using it, digital spaces have become a significant context in which dating abuse can occur. Digital dating abuse (DDA) refers to patterns of abusive behaviors that are directed toward a dating partner through digital technologies, including social media and mobile phones. Despite the growing role of social media in adolescent relationships, research on how adolescent girls experience DDA in these contexts remains limited. The central question for this scoping review …

American Elderberry's Next Top Pollinator: Evaluating The Role Of Arthropods In Pollination, Jenny K. Burrow

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

American elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis) is a woody deciduous shrub native to eastern North America. In addition to its long history of use by indigenous peoples, there is renewed interest in cultivating and consuming American elderberry, primarily driven by expanding health supplement markets. Despite recent advances in horticultural development of American elderberry, its pollination ecology remains poorly understood. In this field study, I evaluated the contribution of arthropod visitors to pollination of American elderberry. To do this, I first characterized the identities and abundances of arthropod visitors via timed arthropod collections and floral observations during peak flowering …

Why Does The U.S. Still Practice The Death Penalty? An Application Of Waltz's Three Images, Anika Tracy

University Honors Program Senior Projects

The United States is the only Western democracy that still practices the death penalty, and legal scholars, domestic politics scholars, and comparativists have written extensively about American capital punishment. In this thesis, I will synthesize this scholarship to present a multifaceted explanation for America’s uniquely continued use of the death penalty through Kenneth Waltz’s three “images” or levels of analysis. While Waltz’s three levels of analysis is an established theory in the field of international relations (IR), the utilization of IR theory for an analysis of American capital punishment is particularly enriching because death penalty abolition is a norm in …

Leveling The Playing Field: The Atlantic Coast Conference’S Settlement With Florida State University And Clemson University, Emma Lloyd Best, Kyre Dane Lahtinen

Fordham Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment Law Journal

This Article examines the legal disputes and subsequent settlement between the Atlantic Coast Conference and two of its prominent member institutions, Florida State University and Clemson University. The conflicts centered on the Atlantic Coast Conference’s extension of its media rights agreement with ESPN, which both universities argued were not properly approved under conference bylaws and imposed an unconscionable withdrawal penalty. Florida State University sought to challenge the enforceability of the Grant of Rights and its associated penalties, while Clemson University pursued a narrower interpretation, aiming to limit broadcast rights and financial obligations upon exit. The …

A Third Possibility: The Press Clause At The Founding, Matthew L. Schafer

Fordham Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment Law Journal

With the rise of history and tradition at the Supreme Court, scholarship purporting to define historical fact is likely to have outsized influence on the development of constitutional law. Underdeveloped constitutional rights like the First Amendment’s Press Clause are especially susceptible to such influence as they lack a precedential counterweight. While Press Clause jurisprudence is shallow, historical research about the Press Clause is not. For decades, scholars who have considered the Press Clause’s historical meaning have generally concluded that the record is quite vague, and, for that reason, cautioned against absolutist conclusions as to its original understanding. …

Leveling The Playing Field: The Atlantic Coast Conference’S Settlement With Florida State University And Clemson University, Emma Lloyd Best, Kyre Dane Lahtinen

Fordham Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment Law Journal

This Article examines the legal disputes and subsequent settlement between the Atlantic Coast Conference and two of its prominent member institutions, Florida State University and Clemson University. The conflicts centered on the Atlantic Coast Conference’s extension of its media rights agreement with ESPN, which both universities argued were not properly approved under conference bylaws and imposed an unconscionable withdrawal penalty. Florida State University sought to challenge the enforceability of the Grant of Rights and its associated penalties, while Clemson University pursued a narrower interpretation, aiming to limit broadcast rights and financial obligations upon exit. The Article delves into the history …

A Third Possibility: The Press Clause At The Founding, Matthew L. Schafer

Fordham Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment Law Journal

With the rise of history and tradition at the Supreme Court, scholarship purporting to define historical fact is likely to have outsized influence on the development of constitutional law. Underdeveloped constitutional rights like the First Amendment’s Press Clause are especially susceptible to such influence as they lack a precedential counterweight. While Press Clause jurisprudence is shallow, historical research about the Press Clause is not. For decades, scholars who have considered the Press Clause’s historical meaning have generally concluded that the record is quite vague, and, for that reason, cautioned against absolutist conclusions as to its original understanding. More recently, though, …

Deregulating The Song: The Case For Free- Market Licensing Of Musical Works In The Digital Streaming Era, Bailey Alberton

Fordham Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment Law Journal

This Note takes as its starting point that songwriters are inadequately and unfairly compensated for the streaming of their music and argues that the unique and pervasive government regulation of musical composition licensing exacerbates this problem. To address this problem, this Note argues that both the compulsory mechanical license and the performing rights organizations consent decrees should undergo reform to permit songwriters to negotiate with music streaming services in the free market.