Digital Commons Network^™

Proverag: Provenance-Driven Vulnerability Analysis With Automated Retrieval-Augmented Llms, Reza Fayyazi, Stella Hoyos Trueba, Michael Zuzak, Jay Yang

Institute for Informatics and Applied Technology Scholarship

In cybersecurity, security analysts constantly face the challenge of mitigating newly discovered vulnerabilities in real-time, with over 300,000 vulnerabilities identified since 1999. The sheer volume of known vulnerabilities complicates the detection of patterns for unknown threats. While LLMs can assist, they often hallucinate and lack alignment with recent threats. Over 40,000 vulnerabilities have been identified in 2024 alone, which are introduced after most popular LLMs’ (e.g., GPT-5) training data cutoff. This raises a major challenge of leveraging LLMs in cybersecurity, where accuracy and up-to-date information are paramount. Therefore, we aim to improve the adaptation of LLMs in vulnerability analysis by …

An Analysis Of Policies Impacting Ex-Offenders And The Barriers Created In Their Transition Into Society: A Qualitative Metasynthesis, Thomas A. Ayala

Theses & Dissertations

In 2018, more than six million people in the United States were under correctional supervision, including incarceration, probation, or parole, equivalent to 1 in 40 adults (Maruschak & Minton, 2020). While this reflects a decline from previous years, prison populations reversed course in 2022, increasing by 2% nationwide, with 36 states and federal facilities reporting higher inmate counts (Nellis, 2024). Since 1973, policy shifts have fueled the rise of mass incarceration (Nellis, 2021; O’Brien, 2020). According to the Pew Center, the United States remains a global outlier, holding 5% of the world’s population, but incarcerates 25% of the 9 million …

未有《嘉興藏》之前 : 萬曆初年的江南刻經運動, Qi-Yuan Wang

嶺南學報 Lingnan Journal of Chinese Studies

學界以往曾發現不少出現在《嘉興藏》正式開雕之前的早期刊本，但未對此現象做出相應的解釋。本文依據傳世藏經文獻中的牌記、序跋記載，加上晚明僧俗精英們的别集著述，考察了“前嘉興藏”時期複雜的刻經經歷，追溯江南地區系统刊刻佛教經藏的地點，最早出現在嘉興東禪寺，發起者是千松明得禪師。而由於各種客觀條件影響，萬曆十年之後，這一刻經事業由晚輩高僧、學界所熟悉的紫柏真可禪師及其僧俗團隊繼續，並逐漸形成刊刻全藏的理想共識。紫柏刻經團隊早期嘗試刻經的地點不止一處，通過當時精英的别集文獻考察，其正式開刻地曾有松江府的金澤鎮、蘇州府的吳江縣等處，而納入早期刻藏經場考察的地方，則包括餘杭徑山、山東嶗山等多地。這些刻經地的選擇，出於當時紫柏僧團的交遊、教内外支持及現實的經濟、交通等多重考慮。最終萬曆十七年初夏，紫柏的刻經團隊正式開刻《嘉興藏》，並把正式刻經地放到了五臺山妙德庵，四年後轉而回到徑山，成爲長期的刻經場地。在“五臺山—徑山”刻藏的敘述成型之後，《嘉興藏》早期刻經的書寫與記憶逐漸被人遺忘。本文通過梳理各部傳世文獻中的相關線索，尤其日記文獻與經藏牌記等之前不被佛教史研究者關注的材料，發掘出晚明僧俗精英於《嘉興藏》籌備期所付出的諸多努力，及其所經歷的各種艱辛與曲折。

Previous academic research on the Jiaxing Tripitaka has found many early editions that appeared before the official printing, but no corresponding explanation has been provided for this phenomenon. This article examines the complex experience of Printing Tripitaka during the “Pre Jiaxing Tripitaka” period based on the records of plaques and prefaces in the surviving, as well as the collected works of the late Ming Buddhist and Lay elites. It traces back to the location of the systematic printing of Buddhist scriptures in the Jiangnan region, which first appeared in Dongchan Temple in Jiaxing, initiated by Master Qiansong Mingde. Due …

《弘明集》《廣弘明集》之單刻及其影響, Meng Li

嶺南學報 Lingnan Journal of Chinese Studies

徽商、居士吳惟明奉其師紫柏真可之命，於萬曆十四年將《弘明集》《廣弘明集》單獨刊刻，刻成後即得到五臺山刻方册大藏負責人密藏道開的高度讚賞，初期刊刻的大藏也以此書爲“家法”，吳刻兩集影響到大藏之刊刻。實際上，吳惟明本人深度參與大藏的籌備與刊刻，不僅捐資刊刻，還派送、推薦刻工至五臺山。吳刻將《弘明》兩集合刻，删去兩書原序、爲兩書各自重編了目録、集中編排音釋;雖以永樂北藏本爲底本，但大量增删改動：詩歌部分據馮惟訥《古詩紀》直接校改底本文字，並“改每篇標目，上目下名”，改變原書編排體例，甚至還會調整詩文編次，已非藏經本原貌。然而，此本問世不久就成爲流通本，嘉興藏本《弘明》二集即採作底本，四庫本、金陵刻書處本、天寧寺本多據以刊刻，《四部叢刊》《四部備要》也據以影印。日本承應三年刻《廣弘明集》、黃檗藏本《弘明》兩集均據以刊刻。明清以來學者據《弘明》二集辑佚先唐佛教詩文，所據之本多爲吳刻系统，不可避免要受此本增删臆改之誤導。

Wu Weiming, a Huizhou merchant and lay Buddhist, followed the order of his teacher Zibai Zhenke to publish Hongmingji and Guanghongmingji separately in the 14th year of Wanli. After they were completed, they were highly praised by Mizang Daokai, the person in charge of the printing of the square volume of the Tibetan Buddhist canon in Mount Wutai. The initial printing of the Tibetan Buddhist canon also used this book as the canon. Wu’s printing of the two collections actually influenced the printing of the Tibetan Buddhist canon. In fact, Wu Weiming himself was deeply involved in the preparation …

Louisiana Children's Trust Fund: Annual Report 2024-2025, Elizabeth Winchester, Jada Thomas-Smith, Quynh-Tram Tran, Aimee Moles, Judith L. F. Rhodes

Reports

LCTF makes annual grant awards to aid in the prevention of child abuse and neglect in the state. Grant awards fund programs and conferences, which are implemented in five LCTF identified areas of intervention, namely: 1) Teaching children personal safety and life skills; 2) Education and support services for parents; 3) Hospital and/or home visitation and support services to families; 4) Public awareness and education programs for adults; and 5) Training and education of teachers, professionals, and volunteers.

To ensure accountability for grant funding, an annual review of funded proposals assesses program planning, implementation, and evaluation. The annual review involves …

Bi-Annual Updates July - December 2025, Centre For Clinical Best Practices (Ccbp)

Centre For Clinical Best Practices (CCBP) Archives

• The Purpose Behind CCBP
• What We Do
• New Knowledge Creation
• Dissemination of AKU Manual
• Children’s Health Manual
• Patient Centered Manual
• Updating AKU Manual
• Dissemination of Manual via Mobile App
• Academic Publications & Conferences
• Strategic Partnerships
• Knowledge Creation
• Updating Guidelines – AKU Manual
• AKU Manual of Paediatrics
• Patient Centered Care Application
• Guidelines & Algorithms Published on Mobile/Web App
• Collaboration Meetings
• Dissemination Sessions
• Physicians Trajectory: Online Manual Access
• Physicians Engagement with Online Manual (2025)
• Analytics: Online Manual Access
• Physicians Speaking About AKU Manual
• Conferences and Publications
• Research Publications
• Center for Clinical Best Practices Team
• Editorial Team
• Acknowledgment

Students’ Perceptions Of Learning Activities On A South African Study Abroad Experience, Raquel Taylor, Nathan W. Conner, Savannah Hauxwell, Taylor Ruth, Bryan Reiling

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Study abroad experiences provide students with the ability to learn and achieve outside the bounds of academic learning. Participating in study abroad experiences allows students to learn more and be more inclusive of diverse groups and perspectives, which can ultimately be integrated into their future careers and daily lives. This qualitative study sought to better understand students’ perceptions of learning activities that took place prior to the study abroad, during the study abroad, and after the study abroad program. The following six themes emerged from data analysis: a) Created change in behavior and perspective, b) Reflection opportunities, c) Future application, …

The Application Of Evidence-Based Practices In Diverse Environments, Emily R. Simon

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Much research supports the argument that students and educators perform better when evidence-based practices are used in the classroom. However, applying these practices across diverse environments can be a challenge. Each class and school is unique, and these differences affect the transferability of these methods in the classroom. This thesis examines how research-based methods on relationship building and instructional practices are implemented and/or modified across different school settings: suburban, urban, special education, general education, and multicultural/multilingual spaces.

Through research on current educational practices, this thesis identifies commonly used evidence-based practices for building relationships between teachers, students, and families, as well …

Water Circulation Beneath A Hovering Suas For Water Quality Monitoring Applications, Erin E. Hackett, Boone Fleenor, Jensine C. Coggin, Duvall Dickerson-Evans, Nikolaos Vitzilaios, Whitney E. Schuler, Paige K. Williams, Michael L. Myrick

Faculty Publications

Water quality has traditionally been measured via in situ sensors and satellites. The latter has limited applicability for smaller inland water bodies, while the former requires significant logistics, labor, and expense for routine sampling, and reactive/spurious sampling is often not feasible as a result (e.g., sampling pre-/post-storm). Consequently, small uncrewed aircraft system-based (sUAS-based) sampling has emerged as a potential solution to bridge these sampling gaps and challenges. But sampling from an sUAS is complicated by the need to pump water from depth, rather than suspending a sensor from the sUAS, due to concern over sampling sUAS-impacted waters. Here, we measure …

2025-12-01 Caudill Connection, Morehead State University. Caudill College Of Arts, Humanities And Social Sciences.

Caudill Connection

Caudill Connection newsletter for December of 2025.

Let’S Talk Mental Health: An Assessment Of Oregon Agricultural Stakeholders Discussing Mental Health, Whitney Stone, Lauren Chase, Taylor Foerster

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Working in agriculture presents some unique mental health stressors, including financial difficulties, climate variability, and isolation. Currently, Extension offers mental health literacy programming addressing mental health and suicide in agricultural communities; however, some of the programming is underattended, and resources are underutilized. We sought to find out how communicating about mental health resources was perceived by agricultural stakeholders who work closely with farmers and ranchers, including agribusiness employees, leaders in the community, and pre-service agriculture teachers. Through this mixed-method study using focus groups and a survey, we wanted to find out the perceptions of mental health resources to help inform …

Rural Mental Health Challenges: Addressing Community-Specific Needs Of Rural Mississippians, Mary Marshall Waller, Mary Nelson Robertson, Holli H. Seitz, Michael R. Nadorff, David R. Buys

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

America’s mental health crisis uniquely impacts rural areas. Challenges surrounding intention and accessibility to engage in mental health-fostering behaviors exacerbate disparities in rural mental healthcare. In this study, Cooperative Extension personnel assess rural Mississippians’ intention to engage in mental health-fostering behaviors, accessibility to mental health-fostering behaviors, and helpfulness of increased access to resources for mental health challenges to determine if relationships exist between these variables. Rural Mississippi adults were recruited via an online survey panel to complete a 147-item web-based questionnaire (n = 274). Findings suggest rural adults’ intention to engage in mental health-fostering behaviors favored connecting with family and …

The Effects Of The Cooking For One Curriculum On Nutrition, Food Safety, Food Resource Management, And Physical Activity Behaviors: A Pilot Study, Tyler B. Becker Dr., Ronald L. Gibbs Jr, Becky Henne, Erika Garner

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

The number of single adult households has increased over the previous decades, and few health education interventions address these unique living situations, which come with various economic challenges. The Cooking for One curriculum is a cooking-based intervention designed to improve nutrition, food safety, food resource management, and physical activity (PA) behaviors among single adults. This curriculum includes six lessons, each with an educational and hands-on cooking component. Participants included 1,546 adults recruited through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education programs in the state of Michigan. Each of the participants underwent the six-lesson Cooking for One curriculum. Prior to and following the intervention, …

Foundational Phases For Community Development: A Model For Enhancing Cooperative Extension’S Role Within The Community, George Grant, Kristina Hains

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

The Cooperative Extension System (CES) plays a vital role in community education and development across the United States. The objective of this article is to demonstrate the historical and present-day significance of the CES as a catalyst for community development practice, while overlaying a community development model applicable to CES. A literature review is provided on the historical origins, organizational structure, and leadership responsibilities of agents and specialists relevant to community development research and practice. The researchers suggest a novel conceptual model, the Foundational Phases for Community Development, to assist agents and specialists across all areas of programming for engaging …

Bridging The Communication Gap In Natural Disaster Information: An Exploratory Study Of Extension Service Websites, Emmanuel Chisom Okolo, Rafael Landaverde, Laxmi Prasanna Kandi, Kim E. Dooley, Sarah Mccord, Kelsi Opat, Abdul Saboor Rahmany

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Natural disasters are expected to become more frequent and severe, increasing the need for effective disaster management. Governments are emphasizing community awareness and local self-reliance, with the Cooperative Extension Services (CES) playing a vital role in distributing science-based knowledge and supporting preparedness efforts. This qualitative content analysis (QCA), guided by Framing Theory, examined how CES disseminated weather-related disaster preparedness and response information from 2003 to 2023 on Extension Service websites. We explored: (1) the frequency of information on natural disaster preparedness and response published on Extension Service websites, (2) dissemination methods, and (3) the quality of disaster preparedness and response …

Practical Applications Of Generative Artificial Intelligence And Best Practices For Extension Professionals, Aileen S. Garcia, Kale Monk, Flower Darby, Naomi R. Meinertz

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) uses deep-learning algorithms that can generate content based on patterns learned from varied prompts. We offer practical strategies for using AI to enhance our work, including automating notes, generating ideas to increase engagement, creating impactful visuals, and assisting program evaluation. We highlight the importance of thoughtful and responsible use of AI, through clear prompt writing, transparency, privacy protection, and ongoing professional development. By recognizing AI as a tool that needs human oversight, Extension professionals can enhance productivity, optimize educational offerings, and better serve their communities.

Full Issue, Volume 13, Number 3, Donna J. Peterson Dr., Scott Cummings, Elizabeth Gregory North

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

The Frontal Assessment Battery In Older Multilingual Kenyan Adults, Anne Njoki Gitere, Anne Nyambura, Karen Blackmon, Levi Muyela, Rachel Maina, Olivera Nesic Taylor,, Jasmit Shah, Dilraj Sokhi, Sylvia Mbugua, Samuel Gitau, Sheila Waa, Juzar Hooker, Zul Merali, Chinedu Momoh, Karen Blackmon

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) was developed as a short (6-item) bedside assessment of executive dysfunction in older adults with suspected neurodegeneration. This study describes psychometric features of the FAB in multilingual Kenyan adults with and without clinical diagnosis of dementia.

Method: The FAB consists of six items assessing verbal abstract reasoning, lexical fluency, motor learning, and inhibitory control. The score on each item ranges from 0-3, with higher scores indicating better performance. Bilingual English-Swahili study personnel translated, blind back-translated, and applied consensus-driven cultural adaptations. FAB was then administered to 95 participants [71 cognitively unimpaired (CU) controls; 24 people …

Burden Of Neurodevelopmental Disorders In Kenyan Children, Symon Kariuki, Patricia Kipkemoi, Martha Kombe, Mary Bitta, Jacqueline Phillips Owen, Amina Abubakar, Charles Newton

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Importance: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and intellectual disability contribute to one-tenth of the global burden of mental and neurologic disorders. The burden of NDDs is not well documented in Africa.

Objective:To assess the prevalence, risk factors, and comorbidities of NDDs in young Kenyan children.

Design, setting and participants: This cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged 6 to 9 years residing in the Kilifi Health and Demographic Surveillance System in Kenya. In stage I of the study, children were screened for NDDs from March 16, 2015, to September 14, 2016; those …

Mental Help Seeking Behavior Of Freshman Nursing Students Of Manila Premier Local University, Gilmore Gelito Solidum

Biennial Convention (CONV)

COVID19 has caught all people in the world in surprise and has altered the way that humans live in almost all regard. The COVID-19 pandemic created an atmosphere of volatility and has caused significant stress and uncertainty. Young people were severely affected as they had to face school shutdowns, contend with social isolation from friends and significant others, and experienced amplified stress at home and in their communities. Given the unprecedented disruption caused by the pandemic, it is crucial to understand the pandemic’s impact on adolescent health and development. Mental health issues have become a growing concern during the pandemic …

Anxiety, Depression And Associated Medical Symptoms In Kenyan Hiv+ Women: Rural Vs. Urban Context, Laura L. Van Auker, Miriam Wagoro, Janet Meda, Mariana Javeza Omenda

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Advances in HIV therapeutics for women living with HIV (WLWH) in sub-Saharan Africa have shifted focus from deadly AIDS to chronic disease management. This shift underscores the need for integrated mental health and HIV care in low-resource settings, particularly addressing medical comorbidities and antiretroviral (ARV) side effects that exacerbate anxiety and depression. Conditions such as anemia, diabetes, hypertension, and malaria, alongside ARV-related side effects like chronic pain, fatigue, and neuropathy, contribute to overlapping physical and mental health symptoms and challenges. Integrating mental health screening into primary care facilitates identifying primary and secondary symptom etiologies, optimizing outcomes. Urban and rural …

Contextualization Of Best Practice Guidelines For Managing Postoperative Pain In Children In Ghana, Sylvia Oger Ofosu Dwamena, Carin Maree, Seugnette Rossouw, Varshika Bhana

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Acute postoperative pain is a prevalent surgical symptom that affects a significant proportion of patients, ranging from 40% to 80% (Skervin & Levy, 2020). Management of postoperative pain is critical for all groups of people, especially children. Various stakeholders are involved in postoperative pain management among children to be effective. Among these stakeholders, much of the concentration is on nurses and caregivers. Best practice guidelines are recommended for effective postoperative pain management among children. There are numerous best practice guidelines for managing postoperative pain among children globally (Cettler et al., 2022; Smith et al., 2022; Trottier et al., …

Construction And Validation Of A Colorectal Cancer Diagnostic Model Based On Ferroptosis-Related Genes, Juan Wang, Qiuyue Zhang

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To establish a ferroptosis-related colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnostic model by integrating machine learning and gene expression analysis. Tumorigenesis is strongly linked to ferroptosis, an iron-mediated kind of cell death. The dismal prognosis of CRC, a severely malignant gastrointestinal cancer, accentuates the demand for effective diagnostic biomarkers. Methods: The study was performed between January 2024 and 2025. The GEO database provided 2 openly searchable gene expression profiles (GSE9348 and GSE21510) from CRC as well as non-tumor tissues. Genes that were expressed differently in tumor and healthy tissues were found using the GSE9348 dataset. Distinct genetic biological functions were identified …

The Role Of Community Libraries In Repackaging Scientifically Researched Information For Rural Farming Communities: A Review, Jackline Estomihi Kiwelu, Patrick Ngulube

Libraries

Objective

Scientifically researched information is often found in journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers, which can be technical and challenging for those without training. Repackaging information into a simpler and preferred language can make it easier for undereducated rural communities to access. This narrative review investigates the strategies community libraries can adopt to repackage scientifically researched information for easier access by rural farming communities. This study contributes to the literature gap on research-based information repackaging by community libraries for rural development.

Methods

The literature search for this narrative review was conducted across several databases, evidence Based Library and Information …

Awareness And Usability Of Community And Facility-Based Health Sector Client Feedback Mechanism In Tanzania Public Health System. A Mixed Methods Study, James Kengia, Pius Kagoma, Ally Kinyaga, Helga Mutasingwa, Simon Debere, Robert Smith, Marcos Mzeru, Rashid Mbunda, Claud Kumalija, Paschal Ruggajo

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background Client feedback systems are increasingly becoming important in person-centered health care. The systems provide opportunities to the public to interact with the health care providers and policymakers, present their concerns related to the performance of the health care system in order to improve the quality, equity, and responsiveness in the provision of services, hence increase social accountability. This study aimed to assess the situation of client feedback systems in Tanzania, focusing on the awareness and usability of existing facility- and community-based feedback platforms from the client’s perspective.

Methods The study employed a concurrent mixed-method design using both quantitative and …

The Psychological Impacts Of Higher Education Educators During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ashlee Morgan Kemp

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological well-being of higher education educators—specifically stress, anxiety, depression, alienation, and burnout—and to identify the coping strategies they employed while adapting to emergency hybrid instruction. This study was guided by the following research questions: What were the primary psychological impacts on higher education instructors’ well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic? How did the pandemic influence instructors’ experiences of stress, anxiety, depression, alienation, and burnout? Additionally, in what ways did educators cope with the instructional and professional challenges that emerged during this period? Guided by a …

Lgbtq+ Adolescents With Disabilities’ Experiences Of School Connectedness And Identity Navigation, Lyndsay Loretta Mccabe

Dissertations

In the United States, LGBTQ+ students have recently faced a barrage of school-based anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and policies (American Civil Liberties Union, 2025). Little is known about the effects of such policies and the overall sociopolitical climate on school connectedness and identity navigation for LGBTQ+ adolescents with disabilities. School connectedness, or the degree to which students feel that they belong at their school, is associated with numerous academic, behavioral, and social-emotional benefits (K. Allen et al., 2018; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022b). Students who are at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities, such as LGBTQ+ adolescents with disabilities, …

The Interpretation And Historical Performance Practices Of Black Choral Music: The Spiritual And Gospel Music, A Comparative Study, Travis Terrence Kornegay

Dissertations

African American spirituals and gospel music are two foundational folk traditions that have profoundly shaped the American musical landscape and continue to influence cultural identity and sacred expression. Emerging from the resilience and faith of enslaved African Americans, spirituals often carried coded messages of liberation. Meanwhile, gospel music developed in the early twentieth-century urban Black church, blending elements of spirituals, blues, and jazz to communicate collective and personal religious experiences. Although linked by shared cultural lineage, the genres diverge in their historical development, linguistic expression, and performance practices, necessitating comparative scholarly inquiry. This dissertation investigates the similarities and key differences …

Teaching Literacy Foundations (2nd Edition), Debra D. Murphy

ATU Faculty OER Books and Materials

Goals and Objectives of the Textbook

This textbook aims to equip educators with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to create rich and inclusive literacy learning environments for all students. The specific objectives of the textbook are:

1. To present a historical and theoretical framework for understanding literacy development and instruction.

2. To explore the essential components of literacy instruction, including phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, reading comprehension, and writing instruction.

3. To provide practical strategies and activities for teaching and assessing literacy skills.

4. To discuss differentiated instruction and inclusive practices that address the diverse needs of …

Mechanistic Modeling Of Deformation Micromechanics In Commercially Pure Titanium Under Cyclic Bending To Post-Necking Regimes, Talukder Musfika Tasnim Oishi

Master's Theses and Capstones

This thesis investigates the deformation behavior of commercially pure titanium (CP–Ti) undercyclic bending under tension (CBT) through integrated experiments and multiscale modeling. Cyclic bending produces alternating tension and compression through the sheet thickness, delaying localization and enhancing ductility. Digital image correlation (DIC) measurements were used to quantify strain-path evolution and elongation-to-fracture (ETF). Finite-element simulations employing a continuum J2 plasticity model captured the macroscopic load–displacement response and width-dependent transition from uniaxial to plane-strain deformation. To incorporate micromechanical mechanisms, a dislocation-density-based crystal plasticity finite-element (CPFE) model with kinematic backstress was developed and calibrated using experimental data, accurately reproducing cyclic hardening and slip-system …