Digital Commons Network^™

A Mathematical Model Of The Interactions Between A Collagen Lattice, Fibroblasts, And Fixed Surfaces With Varying Topographies, Mary Jenkins

Theses and Dissertations

Collagen is an important structural protein in the body, which plays a role in wound healing, particularly the contraction process. Collagen lattices have been studied for nearly 50 years to provide insight into wound contraction. In some cases, collagen interacts with surfaces that have fixed shapes, such as medical implants. Our model focuses on the interactions of a collagen lattice with such a fixed surface. We mathematically model a collagen lattice as a network of nodes connected by springs. We also model fixed surfaces that have various topographies. Our model includes fibroblast cells that connect to both surfaces and remodel …

Synthesis, Characterization, Molecular Docking And Evaluation Of Fluoroquinolone Derivatives As Dual-Targeting Agents, Murtadha F. Abdullah, Raheem J Mohaisen

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: The rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance and persistence of urease-associated bacterial infections underscores the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Urease is a key virulence factor that plays a critical role in pathogenesis of several pathogenic bacteria by promoting colonization and survival in acidic environment. Objective: In this context, this study aimed to develop some fluoroquinolone derivatives hybridized with urease targeting small molecule and evaluating their potential as dual urease inhibiting antibacterial agents. We hypothesized that hybridization of fluoroquinolone core with urease targeting small molecule using a cleavable linker could potentially disarm the microbe's key virulence factor …

Diabetes And Insulin Resistance, Causes And Treatment- A Review, Aoss Moez Abed–Alhussian Alyassery, Anas Al-Yasiry, Zainab Mahmood Al-Jammali

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: Insulin resistance, is a hormone that is produced in the beta cells of the pancreas and works to manage the sugar balance in the body, it usually occurs when the cells in the muscles, fat and liver do not respond properly to insulin and thus cannot absorb glucose from the blood, which leads to increased work of the pancreas to increase glucose.

HOMA-IR is probable a person may be infected 10 or 15 years ago from beginning the type 2 diabetes. When it derives addressing insulin resistance, life style changes should be the importance.

Objective: to review the causes …

The Enabling Role Of Digital Competencies In Heutagogical Learning Contexts: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Jennifer Dean

Irish Journal of Academic Practice

In today’s digital age, independent, self-directed learning is essential for navigating complex information environments. Digital competencies support this by enabling learners to critically engage with, evaluate and apply information while maintaining autonomy and adaptability. This hermeneutic phenomenological study adopts a qualitative, interpretivist approach to explore the lived experiences of individuals engaged in heutagogical learning, where learners take intentional control over what, how and when they learn. Grounded in a constructivist epistemology, data were collected through nine in-depth, semi-structured online interviews. Thematic analysis revealed three key findings. First, self-directed learning is often unconscious and intrinsically motivated, driven by internal determination rather …

Covid-19'S Impact On Student Behavior In Rural-Urban Fringe Elementary Schools, Chanel V. Leslie

College of Education

This study examines the impact of COVID-19 on student behavior in rural-urban fringe schools in Northern Alabama. The qualitative narrative inquiry research centers the lived experiences of teachers from four different schools as they navigate and explain this shift during this time. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner's (1979) ecological systems theory, the study is guided by three research questions that address the changes in student behavior and classroom dynamics; teacher preparedness and the ability to manage post-pandemic behavioral challenges; and effective interventions and support strategies. This research offers further insight into the erosion of foundational social skills, widespread emotional dysregulation, and patterns …

Measurement Invariance: A Tool To Weird-Icize Global Knowledge Production?, Klaus Boehnke

Online Readings in Psychology and Culture

The article examines measurement invariance in quantitative cross-cultural research. Instruments are typically translated, data are collected for the different language versions, and psychometric invariance is assessed. Items deemed equivalent are preserved, while the remaining items are traditionally eliminated. Culturally inclusive methodologies independently develop items across various cultures, translate them into a lingua franca, preserve translatable items, collect data, and corroborate invariance. Non-equivalent items are usually eliminated. A more radical strategy for preserving local (emic) elements is suggested here. Instrument developers across cultures concur on the measurability of a specific construct for which they independently create items, collect data without translation, …

The Holy Grail Of Arthurian Manuscripts Is For Auction At Christie’S, Christopher Berard

Humanities Program Faculty Publications

One of the most important surviving manuscripts of Arthurian literature is set to go under the hammer at Christie’s this July, carrying an estimated value of up to £2 million. Christopher Berard explores the medieval romances that gave shape to the stories of King Arthur, Lancelot, Merlin, and the Holy Grail.

https://www.medievalists.net/2026/06/holy-grail-of-arthurian-manuscripts/

Assessing Renal Dysfunction Incidence Related To Intravenous Acyclovir Usage, Marwa Said Aljahwari, Mohammad Abobakr Alghazali, Aya Said Alsaidi

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the incidence and contributing factors of renal dysfunction among patients receiving intravenous (IV) acyclovir at Khoula Hospital, Muscat, Oman. Specifically, this study aimed to evaluate the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) following IV acyclovir administration, associated risk factors and potential preventive strategies to reduce nephrotoxicity. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Khoula Hospital and included patients aged 12–80 years who received IV acyclovir between January 2019 and December 2023. Patients with pre-existing renal disease or increased baseline serum creatinine were excluded. The sample size was computed using Daniel's formula, resulting …

Qualitative Analysis Of Solutions To A General Class Of Nonlinear Difference Equations With Applications, Osama Moaaz, Mohamed F. Abouelenein, Mona Anis

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

This work examines the qualitative behavior of a general class of difference equations. We establish criteria guaranteeing the stability, periodicity, and boundedness of the solutions of the equation under consideration. In addition, we identify its invariant intervals. The theoretical results are subsequently applied to various special cases, among them the May--Host model. Numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate the dynamics of the solutions and to validate the theoretical analysis.

Adaptation Of The Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire For Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis: Protocol For A User-Centered Design Approach, Claudia Gambrah-Lyles, Aaron W Abrams, Sara Loud, Hollie Schmidt, Emily Blosberg, Melissa Wright, Kelsey E Poisson, Kristen S Fisher, Kimberly A O'Neill, Akash Virupakshaiah, John W Rose

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) is a chronic, progressive neurologic condition requiring lifelong management and coordinated transition from pediatric to adult care. Evidence-based guidelines identify transition readiness assessment as a core component of successful transition; however, most POMS clinics do not formally assess readiness, and existing tools do not address POMS-specific challenges, such as fluctuating disability, complex treatment regimens, and cognitive impairment. This gap underscores the need for a transition readiness measure tailored to POMS.

Objective: This paper aims to describe a stakeholder-engaged, implementation science-guided protocol for adapting the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) version 6.0 to reflect the unique …

Navigating The Cocoon: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of Mothers’ Experiences Of Seeking Diagnosis And Services For Children With Disabilities In Insular Rural American Samoa, Elizabeth Cutrer, Ocean K. Akau, Lorena Seu, Isabel Medina Hull, G. E. Kawika Allen, Ofa H. Kanuch, Cameron W. H. Hee, Melia Fonoimoana Garrett

Faculty Publications

This study examines how mothers raising children with disabilities in American Samoa experience the processes of seeking diagnosis, navigating special education, and advocating for services within an insular rural context. American Samoa, an unincorporated U.S. territory located 2600 miles from Hawaiʻi with a population under 50,000, represents a case of what we term insular rurality—a condition in which the structural disadvantages of rurality are intensified by oceanic isolation, territorial governance, and colonial history. Data were collected through three focus groups with fifteen mothers whose children hold a range of disability diagnoses, with a card sort activity at the outset of …

On The Edge Of Science?, Mark Briffa, Lynne U. Sneddon

Animal Sentience

In The Edge of Sentience, Jonathan Birch (2024) provides a thought-provoking synthesis of current perspectives on animal (and artificial) sentience. He addresses the question from conceptual, ethical, regulatory and empirical viewpoints. Here we focus on some of the scientific issues raised, including defining and operationalising the concept of sentience and the implications for policy and regulation. Despite unresolved conceptual challenges, the book makes a compelling case for the continued scientific investigation of animal sentience.

Supporting The Wellbeing Of Multilingual Learners A Case Study On Secondary Teachers’ Use Of Transformative Social Emotional Learning Practices, Jaclyn Sparks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study investigated how bilingual and monolingual English-speaking teachers support the wellbeing of Multilingual Learners (MLs) and which aspects of Transformative Social Emotional Learning (TSEL) these teachers perceive themselves incorporating with MLs. Data were collected through classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, and a focus group. Data analysis was conducted using open coding, axial coding, and constant comparative methods.

Findings indicate that teachers support MLs’ wellbeing by creating inclusive environments through intentionally planned lessons that center equitable opportunities for MLs to engage with the content. Furthermore, teachers perceive to utilize decolonizing practices to make the curriculum accessible for MLs. This …

Box-Behnken Design-Based Response Surface Modelling For The Optimized Greener Spectrophotometric Methodology To Determine Betahistine In Pharmaceutical Formulations, Shaikh Manirul Haque

Yanbu Journal of Engineering and Science

Betahistine is a novel drug used to treat vertigo. The research focuses on developing and optimizing a simple, environmentally sustainable spectrophotometric approach for the analysis of BH in tablet formulations. The present investigation is based on the reaction between BH and potassium iodide and potassium iodate, monitored by Ultraviolet-Visible spectrophotometry at 352 nm. The most influential variables were optimized using response surface methodology via Box–Behnken design, resulting in reduced chemical, energy, and analysis time, and ultimately the analysis cost. Environmental sustainability was assessed using Analytical Eco-Scale (92), Analytical Greenness (0.72), Blue Applicability Grade Index (72.5) and Environmental and Practical Performance …

The Soil Crisis In Modern Food Systems: Rethinking Agricultural Land Use, Antonia Moure Richard

Journal of Food Law & Policy

Feeding a larger world while preserving the resource that makes agriculture possible—soil—poses a governance problem. By 2050, food systems must support 9.8 billion people even as prevailing practices continue to degrade soils that are non-renewable on human timescales. Technological fixes (e.g., vertical farming, hydroponics) may complement production, but they cannot substitute for soil at scale. The question that follows is simple: are current uses of soil compatible with the future needs of food systems? This article argues that without a shift in governance, short-run productivity gains are achieved by drawing down the soil asset, thereby undermining long-run food security and …

Production Of Organo-Mineral Fertilizing Ameliorants Based On Phosphogypsum, Central Kyzylkum Phosphorites And Biohumus, Temur A. Ospanov, Axmed M. Reymov, Rashid K. Kurbaniyazov, Jaxanger M. Bisenbaev

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Phosphogypsum, a large-scale industrial by-product generated during phosphoric acid production, poses significant environmental challenges due to its accumulation and potential ecological impact. This study investigates the utilization of phosphogypsum as a raw material for producing fertilizing ameliorants in combination with Central Kyzylkum phosphorites and biohumus. Composite mixtures were prepared and granulated using a 30% ammonium sulfate solution as a binding agent. The chemical composition, phase structure (XRD), and microstructure (SEM–EDS) of the obtained materials were analyzed. The results demonstrate the formation of calcium phosphate and sulfate phases, including CaHPO4·2H2O, β-Ca3(PO4)2, and CaSO4·2H2O, which contribute to both fast- and slow-release nutrient …

Computational Analysis Of A Single Air Bubble Rising In Quiescent Water Under Temperature Variations, Mokdad Hayawi Rahman, Muna Khalil Shehan, Emad Qasem Hussein, Farhan Lafta Rashid

Al-Farahidi Expert Systems Journal

Two-phase fluid flow is widely encountered in petroleum, chemical, nuclear, and energy applications. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) by ANSYS Fluent 17.2 has been employed in this work to simulate the rise of a single air bubble through stagnant water at different temperatures (0 °C, 25 °C, and 50 °C). In addition, a user-defined function(UDF)was developed and implemented to incorporate phase-change behavior and temperature-dependent properties. This study investigates how the buoyancy-driven bubble dynamics will be responsive to changes in liquid viscosity, surface tension, and density. The results demonstrated that increasing the temperature of water enhances the bubble rise velocity significantly; the …

Computational Assessment Of Lyophilized Insulin Stability In A Trehalose–Mannitol Matrix: Bayesian Shelf-Life Modeling From Published Solid-State Kinetic Data With Trehalose–Insulin Molecular Dynamics Literature Synthesis, Chaiyapat Chuenglertsiri, Pattrick Chen

Defensive Publications Series

This in-silico feasibility analysis discloses, as defensive prior art (CC BY 4.0), a hypothetical lyophilized insulin formulation engineered for amorphous trehalose-glass storage to remove the 2-8 C cold chain that constrains this WHO Essential Medicine. No wet-lab potency, stability, or bioequivalence data are generated; all numerical predictions are computational extrapolations from peer-reviewed parameters. The formulation is pre-formed Zn2+ R6-hexamer insulin embedded in an amorphous trehalose-dihydrate matrix (about 83% w/w of solids), with L-proline as a freeze-stage co-lyoprotectant (about 2-3%) and D-mannitol as a crystalline bulking agent (about 12-15%), reconstituted subcutaneously on use. Feasibility is assessed through five analyses: an activation-energy …

The Layered Knowledge Profile, Harendra A. Alwis Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

The Open Knowledge Format (OKF) gives the world a portable, vendor-neutral envelope for knowledge — markdown files with YAML frontmatter, cross-linked into a graph — and, by deliberate design, declines to specify how the knowledge inside that envelope should be organised, requiring only a single type field and defining the interoperability surface rather than the content model. The Layered Knowledge Profile (LKP) supplies the content model that OKF leaves open. It encodes, as machine-readable structure expressed entirely within OKF's own conventions, the asymmetric ontological dependency among the four realms of reality described by Alwis (2026), so that a body of …

Shipwrecks: A Genuine Pollution Risk, Farid Hatimy

Revue Marocaine de Droit, d'Economie et de Gestion (Moroccan Journal of Law, Economics and Management)

Marine pollution, defined as the introduction by humans of substances or energy into the marine environment causing harmful effects, is often associated with major maritime accidents. Modern vessels carrying immense cargoes and large quantities of fuel pose significant threats when reduced to shipwrecks through incidents such as breakage, grounding, sinking, or explosion. These shipwrecks represent a genuine risk of accidental—rather than operational—pollution. The author examines how such maritime disasters endanger marine ecosystems, biological resources, human health, and maritime activities including fishing and leisure, highlighting the critical need for effective prevention and intervention measures.

The Child Born Out Of Wedlock In Morocco, Mohamed Chafi

Revue Marocaine de Droit, d'Economie et de Gestion (Moroccan Journal of Law, Economics and Management)

Unlike French law, which recognises legitimate, natural, adulterine, and adoptive filiation, Moroccan law only acknowledges legitimate blood filiation. Marriage is the exclusive foundation of family ties; adoption is formally prohibited, and extramarital sexual relations as well as adultery are criminally sanctioned. A child born out of wedlock cannot be recognised by the father nor establish natural paternity, nor can the father legitimise the child through subsequent marriage. Consequently, the illegitimate child finds themselves in a situation comparable to that of adulterine children in pre-Revolutionary France, effectively devoid of any legal relationship with their biological father.

Unified Cognitive Architecture For Distributed Manifold Reasoning Systems, Donevin Frownfelter

Defensive Publications Series

Donevin Frownfelter ([email protected])

This disclosure describes a unified cognitive architecture that integrates three complementary systems—VESPER, NEPHILIM, and the Unified Agent Reasoning Model (UARM)—into a single operational framework for distributed reasoning, semantic computation, and multi‑device intelligence. The architecture introduces a manifold‑based cognitive substrate, enabling agents to perform reasoning as transformations across a non‑Euclidean semantic space rather than through traditional symbolic or statistical pipelines.

The system employs a tensor‑manifold representation for knowledge, a Majorana‑parity logic layer for reversible inference, and a distributed execution mesh that allows heterogeneous devices to participate in a shared cognitive topology. VESPER provides the laminar reasoning core, NEPHILIM …

Laurentian Dairy Matrix, Natalie M. Durdle Miss

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure establishes the public domain agricultural parameters for synthesizing a specialized ruminant milk fat base optimized structurally and biochemically for long-duration lactic acid fermentation and traditional Beurre de Baratte churning. This invention defines the precise thermodynamic climate requirements, soil chemistry thresholds, and botanical poly-culture ratios required to yield a milk lipid profile characterized by robust fat-globule membranes and elevated precursor volatile compounds (yielding distinct diacetyl and hazelnut notes upon culturing), independent of a restricted geographic location or specific animal species. ALSO  This specification establishes the public domain manufacturing protocol to transform raw ruminant milk harvested from the climate-conditioned pasture …

Cake And Cookie Dairy Fat Base, Natalie M. Durdle Miss

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure establishes the public domain agricultural parameters for synthesizing a specialized ruminant milk fat base optimized structurally for cake emulsification, cookie dough spread, and rapid aeration (creaming). This invention defines the precise thermodynamic climate requirements, soil chemistry thresholds, and botanical poly-culture ratios required to yield a milk lipid profile characterized by an elevated concentration of short-chain and unsaturated fatty acids (specifically oleic acid), independent of a restricted geographic location or a specific animal species.

Pastry Butter, Natalie M. Durdle Miss

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure establishes the public domain agricultural parameters for synthesizing a specialized ruminant milk fat base optimized structurally for high-end baking, laminating, and pastry production. This invention defines the precise thermodynamic climate requirements, soil chemistry thresholds, and botanical poly-culture ratios required to yield a milk lipid profile characterized by an elevated melting point and high structural elasticity, independent of a restricted geographic location or a specific animal species.

Non-Euclidean Geometries And Fairness Constraints In Advanced Clustering, Arnab Seal

Master’s Dissertations

A fundamental challenge in modern unsupervised learning is adapting classical clustering algorithms to handle complex, real-world data constraints. Traditional models often assume data resides in a flat, Euclidean space and optimize strictly for cluster cohesion, thereby failing to capture intrinsic hierarchical structures and ignoring sociotechnical demographic biases. This thesis addresses these critical limitations by extending generalized mean-shift dynamics into two novel clustering frameworks. First, to natively accommodate data with tree-like structures (e.g., taxonomies and social networks), we propose Hyperbolic Gaussian Blurring Mean Shift (HypeGBMS). By projecting data into the Poincar´e ball model and utilizing M¨obius vector space operations, HypeGBMS successfully …

Leveraging Spatial Statistics For Domain Adaptation Of Vision Language Models In Medical Vqa, Himanshu Raj

Master’s Dissertations

Recent advances in Vision–Language Models (VLMs) have demonstrated strong performance in Medical Visual Question Answering (Medical VQA) task. Although they perform very well within their domains, these models often experience issues with their generalization ability on unknown clinical distribution data because of different imaging technologies and patient groups used in various medical facilities. Generalization problems faced by these models make their practical application in the field of VLM-based medical VQA systems rather difficult. To overcome this limitation we proposed our method named Spatial Semantics Aware Domain Adaptation (SSADA), which is an integrated framework that combines both finetuning and prompt-based in-context …

Bridging Gaps In Childhood Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Treated At An Outpatient Clinic, Allen M. Savedra

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Exploring Gene Regulatory Neural Network Biocomputing Of Bacteria, Adrian Merle Ratwatte

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has evolved from brain-inspired algorithms into a discipline that increasingly integrates with biological systems. While silicon-based platforms have advanced machine learning, they remain limited in energy efficiency and operation in environments beyond silicon. This motivates biological computing as an alternative, enabling efficient, resource-aware, and reconfigurable computing within living systems. This dissertation addresses these limitations by introducing a bacterial computing framework that models Gene Regulatory Networks (GRNs) as Gene Regulatory Neural Networks (GRNNs). The GRNN mirrors the structure and function of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) through gene-gene interactions across trans-omic layers, enabling natural, self-regulating information processing within living …

Self-Compassion And Meaningful Work: Examining The Role Of Personal Resources In Veterinary Medicine Student Burnout Through A Jd-R Framework, Swathi Prabhu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Rates of burnout are known to be markedly high among veterinary professionals but less is known about burnout among U.S. veterinary students. The Job Demands-Resource (JD-R) Theory provides a framework through which veterinary students’ experiences can be investigated in a way that centers supportive organizational and personal resources, instead of focusing on the detrimental aspects of training that have dominated the literature. Using a sample of 469 students enrolled in U.S. colleges of veterinary medicine, the current study examined if two personal resources (self-compassion and work as meaning) mediated the relationship between two sources of support (student peer support and …