Digital Commons Network^™

Efficient Photo Compression And Reconstruction Using Generative Artificial Intelligence, Amir Kamali, Hossein Talebi, Prachi Panpalia, Nick Torres

Defensive Publications Series

Storing high-resolution digital photos and video requires substantial storage space on a user device and/or a cloud-based image library. This disclosure describes the use of generative artificial intelligence to achieve storage savings via image downscaling with little or no perceptible impact. With user permission, a customized model such as a LoRA patch is trained based on images in the user’s library. Images in the library are stored as downscaled versions. When the user requires a high-resolution version, a generative artificial intelligence model, optionally with the customized LoRA patch, is used to generate the target resolution version from the downscaled image. …

Augmenting Photo Reminiscing Experiences With Llm-Generated Narrations, Ji Hun Kim, Abdulrahman Khan, Tommy Meaney, Tim Zhu, Zhou Zhou

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes techniques that leverage a large language model (LLM) to generate custom narrations when arranging sets of photos in the form of a visual experience for users to reminisce on thereby personalizing and adding depth to the reminiscing experience. Per the techniques, a set of photos from a user’s photo library to be featured in a visual experience is identified. Photo pixels, metadata, and other relevant data are used to populate a prompt that is to an LLM. The response from the LLM is parsed and associated with photos to be featured in the visual experience. The LLM-generated …

User Intent-Conditioned Image Captioning Using Llm For Generating Personalized Photo Descriptions, D Shin

Defensive Publications Series

Image captioning models can receive an image as input and generate captions that describe objects, scenes, and other visual aspects in the image. However, such models are not personalized to a user and lack the ability to generate captions that are tailored to specific user intent or contexts. This disclosure describes techniques to generate personalized image captions using a large language model (LLM). With user permission, user intent data such as context, preferences, notes, or tags from users (e.g., that are stored in association with user images) are used as input to a LLM to refine image captions generated by …

Front Matter, Cuaderna Vía Editors

Cuaderna Vía

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Cuaderna Vía Editors

Cuaderna Vía

No abstract provided.

Valuing Firms Using The Price-To-Sales Ratio: A Practical Perspective, B. Brian Lee, Haeyoung Shin, Dong-Kyoon Kim

Southwestern Business Administration Journal

The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is a key financial metric used to assess a firm's value by comparing its stock price to earnings. However, the P/E ratio becomes ineffective for firms with losses (Joos & Plesko, 2005). In such cases, the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is an alternative valuation metric. However, while the P/S ratio helps compare firms with similar business models, financial leverage can distort the interpretation of the P/S ratio, potentially misleading investors. This study offers practical guidance for accounting and finance professionals on enhancing the utility of the P/S ratio by considering leverage effects. Using 147,951 firm-year observations from …

Textbooks: Required, Alternatives, Hybrid, Or Disappearance, William Saunders, Carlton Perkins, Michara Delaney-Fields

Southwestern Business Administration Journal

The conversations around transformational changes in higher education are centered around a myriad of issues. Technology, the lasting effects of the pandemic, student satisfaction and readiness for future employment requirements are a few of the leading concerns. However, one subject that is not receiving enough attention is the growing resistance and hesitation among college students to purchase textbooks. Although the movement has not reached the status of a full-blown protest or outright refusal, there is enough attention being brought to the subject that educators may want to be prepared for an eventual change. The need and requirement for textbooks in …

An Empirical Examination Of Student Dropout In A Diverse Campus Environment, Zahid Iqbal, Shekar Shetty

Southwestern Business Administration Journal

Abstract

This study expands on the existing literature by examining dropout behavior of minority college students. Specifically, the study compares determinants of retention for large ethnic student groups in the College of Business of an ethnically-diverse college campus. The dynamics of retention and progression are not known for college campuses with large representations of ethnic students. Our empirical findings show that college GPA explains student dropout for all ethnic groups. We find evidence of a positive association between dropout and male students for African-American and White ethnicities. Additionally, dropout has a positive association with online classes for African-Americans and Hispanics …

Sensemaking Opportunities For Students Experiencing Difficulty: A Mixed Methods Study, Rachel Juergensen, Delinda Van Garderen

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

All students deserve to be engaged in high-quality science instruction that moves beyond memorization and recall of facts and offers opportunities for sensemaking. Science achievement is alarmingly low signifying there is a large percentage of students experiencing difficulty in science. The low science achievement may be symptomatic of gaps in opportunities for sensemaking within the science classroom. Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, the current study explored the relationship between middle school science teacher beliefs and opportunities students experiencing difficulty in science had to participate in sensemaking discussions. Integrated findings from the study suggest that teachers’ beliefs influenced the …

Psychosocial Challenges As Predictors Of Transactional Sex Among Undergraduates In Ondo State, Nigeria, Ifeoluwa Blessing Michael, Oyedotun Dolapo Ilori, Patrick O. Akerele

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

The study investigated the psychosocial challenges predictive towards engaging in transactional sex among undergraduates within Ondo State, with the moderating role of demographic variables weighed heavily. Employing a descriptive survey design, data were gathered from 404 undergraduates by means of a validated questionnaire (reliability = 0.86) randomly sampled from two public and two private universities. Amongst the findings from descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses were that peer pressure, financial instability, family dysfunction, and emotional health challenges had significant correlations with involvement in transactional sex while jointly explaining 46.6% of the variance. Financial instability was the strongest predictor, followed by …

System And Method For Thermochromic Indicator Payment Card, Mohit Koul, Rohit Mukherjee

Defensive Publications Series

The present disclosure related to a system and method for thermochromic indicator payment card. The system and method more specifically implements thermochromic technique. The payment card is embedded with thermochromic material that can change colour in response to temperature fluctuation, providing a passive and dynamic visual indicator for transaction verification and security alerts. Further, the present disclosure enables real time transaction awareness and fraud detection without relying on electronic alerts and external power sources.

Tax Rule Validation Using Large Language Models, Sandeep Chandna, Misha Narinsky

Defensive Publications Series

The process of mapping products to jurisdiction-specific tax categories and validating rates against evolving legislation can involve complex, manual effort. A system is described that may leverage Large Language Models (LLMs) to assist with these tasks. The system can be configured to perform functions such as interpreting natural-language text from tax laws to classify products from an internal catalog. Additionally, the system can source and ingest public tax data to compare a company's internal tax rule configurations against external information sources. By automating the cross-referencing of internal product data with external legal and rate information, such a system can facilitate …

The Innovative Technique For Obtaining The Solutions Of Jeffery Hamel Nano-Fluids Flow Problem, Haedir Abd Alrazak Namoos, Abeer Majeed Jasim

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

The study of heat transfer in nanofluid flows is increasingly important in many engineering, medical, and industrial applications. These fluids offer enhanced thermal cooling properties compared to conventional fluids. The research problem lies in the challenges of solving the Jeffrey-Hammel flow model for nanofluids, which includes coupled nonlinear differential equations that describe the thermal and hydrodynamic behavior of this type of flow, taking into account the influence of multiple factors such as the type, size, and concentration of nanoparticles. This research aims to propose a new hybrid analytical technique that combines the Laplace transform and the q-homotopy analysis technique with …

Retracted: Efficient Multi-User Computation Offloading And Reducing Latency In Mobile-Edge Computing For Iot Applications, Sarmad T. Abdul-Samad, Osamah Al-Hwaidi, Ali Abd Al-Rasool Muslem

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) is an inventive paradigm for computing that has the potential to notably diminish latency and energy consumption by transferring computationally demanding jobs to edge clouds near intelligent mobile users. This investigation aims to reduce offloading and latency between multiple users and edge computing in the context of Internet of Things (IoT) applications in the fifth generation (5G) by utilizing an optimization algorithm called the Bald Eagle Search Optimization Algorithm. Although employing deep learning methods might increase time consumption and computational complexity, an edge computing system enables devices to transfer their demanding jobs to edge servers, decreasing …

Retracted: Iot Flow Parameters Classification Based On Machine Learning Techniques, El-Sayed M. El-Kenawy, Marwa M. Eid, Ban Salman Shukur, Amel Ali Alhussan, Doaa Sami Khafaga

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

In recent years, there has been a highly remarkable convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), which has made rapid progress in smart city initiatives by developing smart devices for such cities. Since these devices are increasingly diversified, they require a resilient communication network to demonstrate high performance in managing consistent traffic flows. A machine learning model intended for identifying network parameters from diverse devices, in addition to proposing modifications meant for network performance enhancement, is developed in this study. In relation to packet data as a network traffic parameter, employing gateway devices can facilitate its …

Retracted: Metaguard: A Federated Learning Approach To Hybrid Xgboost And Meta-Learning Models For Proactive Cyber Threat Hunting, Shatha H. Jafer Al-Khalisy, Ghada Al-Kateb

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

In an increasingly interconnected world, cybersecurity threats have become more sophisticated, necessitating advanced, scalable, and privacy-preserving solutions. MetaGuard emerges as a novel framework that integrates federated learning with hybrid machine learning models, specifically XGBoost and meta-learning, to enhance proactive cyber threat detection. This framework offers a robust, distributed approach to cybersecurity, ensuring high detection accuracy while preserving user privacy through the implementation of differential privacy and homomorphic encryption. MetaGuard leverages distributed nodes to collaboratively train a global model, enabling rapid adaptation to new threats without the need for centralized data aggregation. Experimental evaluations using the CYBER-2024 dataset demonstrate that MetaGuard …

Unheard And Underserved: The Role Of Narratives And Shared Experiences Of Systemic Racism In The Black Community’S Engagement With Mental Health Services, Essence Jones

Master of Arts in Human Services

This research examines the intersection of systemic racism and mental healthcare in the Black community, focusing on the reluctance to engage with mainstream services. Grounded in historical analysis, the study traces how slavery, segregation, and discriminatory policies have shaped enduring mistrust toward mental health systems. Despite progress in health equity initiatives, cultural insensitivity, underrepresentation of Black providers, and ongoing structural barriers persist. Drawing from peer-reviewed literature, the work explores narratives and collective memories that influence perceptions of care, including the role of faith-based coping, stigma, and alternative healing practices. Special attention is given to the compounded effects of intersectional identities …

A Complex Border: Intractability And The Physical Roots Of Discursive Legitimations In Cyprus, Hilmi Ulas

Peace Studies Faculty Articles and Research

The Cypriot conflict is one of the most intractable conflicts of the modern era, and the collapse of complexity among the actors in the conflict—mainly the Republic of Cyprus, North Cyprus, and Turkey—appears to be the main cause of the continued “no war, no peace” state. Subsequent socio-psychological self-organization among these actors then produces conflict-perpetuating feedback loops and dynamics. These dynamics include identity narratives, narratives of “the other,” and narratives of the nature of the conflict, which, at the grassroots level, can legitimize ongoing engagement in the conflict, whereas peace is painted as an undesirable and undeserved/unjust compromise. Given this, …

Ineffective Parenting, Alexis Rian

Master of Arts in Human Services

Ineffective parenting can lead to long-term, severe, and lasting consequences for children. Children depend heavily on their primary caregivers for safety and to have their basic needs met. However, not all parents demonstrate positive parenting styles, whether due to a lack of knowledge, limited capacity, or simply a lack of interest. Parenting styles fall into four categories: authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved. The type of parenting style a caregiver adopts can significantly influence the attachment style a child has with them. Four attachment styles that children have are insecure avoidant attachment, secure attachment, insecure resistant attachment, and disorganized attachment. Children …

Not In My Neighborhood! The Harsh Realities Of Sex Offender Registration Laws, Kyle B. Rossow

Master of Arts in Human Services

Sex offender registration laws were created in response to public fear and high-profile tragedies, with the primary goal of enhancing public safety through stringent monitoring of sexual offenders. This paper explores the historical development of these laws, including high-profile cases that later influenced legislative acts, such as the tragic incidents of Jacob Wetterling, Megan Kanka, and Adam Walsh. This paper also explores how media portrayals and public opinion factor into these legislative decisions. While the laws aim to protect the public, they often result in collateral consequences for individuals who have to register. Sex offenders are often held back by …

Synergistic Cefiderocol-Containing Antibiotic Combinations Active Against Highly Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii Patient Isolates With Diverse Resistance Mechanisms, Justin Halim, Andrew P. Keane, Jeannete Bouzo, Tope Aderibigbe, Jessica A. Chicola, Katie T. Nolan, Keertana Jonnalagadda, Jason X. Tran, Valerie J. Carabetta

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Acinetobacter baumannii is a nosocomial pathogen known for rapidly developing resistance to nearly all antibiotics, including last-line agents. Cefiderocol, a novel siderophore cephalosporin, has shown in vitro activity against A. baumannii and is now used clinically, but resistance is emerging. Data on cefiderocol-based antibiotic combinations are limited.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the in vitro activity of cefiderocol alone and in combination with other antibiotics against XDR and PDR A. baumannii clinical isolates, and to explore resistance mechanisms underlying cefiderocol synergy.

METHODS: We tested 21 XDR/PDR clinical isolates and one NDM-1-producing strain using broth microdilution and checkerboard assays with cefiderocol and …

A Religious Etiology Of Genito-Pelvic Pain And Pain With Penetration, Emily L. Carlson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Pelvic pain during penetration (PPDP) has been described using various diagnostic terms, including vaginismus, dyspareunia, and vulvodynia. The most recent and comprehensive classification is Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPPD) which is characterized by psychological distress associated with pain during or in anticipation of vaginal penetration (DSM-5-TR; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2022). The etiology of PPDP is multifactorial, involving a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and relational factors. Religious and cultural influences may play a significant role in shaping individuals’ experiences of sexual pain. This study investigated the etiology of PPDP in relation to the religious influences among women raised in Judeo-Christian …

Precarious Privilege: Exploring The Intersection Of White Teacher Habitus And Social Justice In International Schools, Kevin L. Workman

Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the underresearched phenomenon of White teacher allyship within an emergent diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) movement in international schools. Gaining momentum in 2020 as a digital, postcolonial counterstory, the movement exposed structural inequities and racism across the international school ecosystem. Applying an antiracist reading of Bourdieu’s (1977) theory of practice, the study analyzes how White teachers (n = 8) from diverse international contexts understand, experience, and assess their participation in DEIJ activities. Thematic analysis of interview data corroborated the digital voices, explicitly identifying White supremacy as a key force shaping the field’s doxa. The study …

Archival Articulations Of Belonging: Resistance, Reimagination, And Resilience In School And In Incarceration, Caroline Hastings

Dissertations

Belonging is a universal desire, providing purpose and comfort, that supports our ability to survive and triumph through difficulty. A lack of belonging can impact one’s likelihood of becoming incarcerated. In turn, incarceration stigmatizes individuals and disrupts connections with family, friends, and community members. This study of individual’s experiences of belonging analyzed reflective written accounts created during incarceration. This phenomenological qualitative examination of belonging for formerly and currently incarcerated individuals, disproportionately people of color and individuals with disabilities, sought to deepen our understanding of belonging as a force in their lives. In the United States, high rates of incarceration impact …

Modeling The Importance Of Life Exposure Factors On Memory Performance In Diverse Older Adults: A Machine Learning Approach, Evan Fletcher, Marianne Chanti-Ketterl, Emily Hokett, Yi Lor, Umesh Venkatesan, Ruijia Chen, Omonigho M. Bubu, Rachel Whitmer, Paola Gilsanz, Zvinka Z. Zlatar

Moss-Magee Rehabilitation Papers

INTRODUCTION: Many health life exposure factors (LEFs) influence cognitive decline and dementia incidence, but their relative importance to episodic memory (an early indicator of cognitive decline) among diverse older adults is unclear. We used machine learning to rank LEFs for memory performance in a large and diverse US cohort.

METHODS: Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences (KHANDLE) and Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans (STAR), participants underwent neuropsychological testing and answered questionnaires about multiple LEFs. XGBoost and Shapley Additive exPlanation values ranked the importance of factors influencing cross-sectional episodic memory in the full sample and by sex and …

Menopause-Related Changes In Sleep And The Associations With Cardiometabolic Health: A Narrative Review, Joshua R. Sparks, Xuewen Wang Ph.D., Faha

Faculty Publications

This narrative review examines the complex relationship between sleep changes during the menopausal transition and cardiometabolic risks. The most common complaint about sleep is increased awakenings during sleep. Other complaints include having trouble falling asleep, waking up too early, insufficient and non-restorative sleep, and overall poor quality. Sleep determined using objective methods also indicates that greater awakenings after sleep onset are associated with the period of menopausal transition. Polysomnography recordings suggest physiological hyperarousal during sleep. Changes in other sleep metrics, such as sleep latency and sleep duration, are less consistent, and some studies suggest they may not worsen during the …

August 20, 2025 Blazer Weekly, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

Blazer Weekly (student newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Dynamic Remodeling Of Centrioles And The Microtubule Cytoskeleton In The Lifecycle Of Chytrid Fungi, Alexandra F Long, Krishnakumar Vasudevan, Andrew Swafford, Claire M Venard, Jason E Stajich, Lillian K Fritz-Laylin, Jessica L Feldman, Tim Stearns

Biology Faculty Publications

Cell movement and division are complex behaviors driven by a dynamic internal cytoskeleton. The molecular components and principles of cytoskeletal assembly are well studied, but less is known about cytoskeletal remodeling events, including how centrioles transition from ciliary base to centrosome. Here we address this using the chytrid Rhizoclosmatium globosum, a zoosporic fungus which has centrioles and cilia, lost in most fungal lineages. Chytrids undergo reorganization of their microtubule cytoskeleton as they grow from zoospore to multinucleated coenocyte. We use evolutionary comparison, RNA sequencing, and expansion microscopy to understand this reorganization and further develop this organism as a model for …

Offline Contextual Bandits In The Presence Of New Actions, Ren Kishimoto, Tatsuhiro Shimizu, Kazuki Kawamura, Takanori Muroi, Yusuke Narita, Yuki Sasamoto, Kei Tateno, Takuma Udagawa, Yuta Saito

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

Automated decision-making algorithms drive applications in domains such as recommendation systems and search engines. These algorithms often rely on off-policy contextual bandits or off-policy learning (OPL). Conventionally, OPL selects actions that maximize the expected reward within an existing action set. However, in many real-world scenarios, actions—such as news articles or video content—change continuously, and the action space evolves over time compared to when the logged data was collected. We define actions introduced after deploying the logging policy as new actions and focus on the problem of OPL with new actions. Existing OPL methods cannot learn and select new actions because …

Boilermaker Blacksmith National Pension Trust V. Maiden Holdings Ltd

2025 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey