Digital Commons Network^™

Yvonne Worman V. Nancy Barasse

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Usa V. Jeremy Johnson

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Improving Schools To Promote Upward Mobility: The Promise And Limits Of School Finance Reforms, Sarah Reber

Brookings Scholar Lecture Series

As part of the Brookings Scholar Lecture Series, Brookings Mountain West presents a lecture titled, "Improving Schools to Promote Upward Mobility: The Promise and Limits of School Finance Reforms" by Brookings senior fellow in economic studies, Sarah Reber.

Systematic differences in access to high-quality schools by race, income, and other characteristics perpetuate inequality across generations. Local property tax financing of schools is often identified as a key cause of unequal educational opportunity. While the consensus of rigorous research supports the common intuition that, on average, “money matters” in improving educational outcomes, questions about how much, and under what conditions, school …

Becoming-With Teachers: An Auto-Theoretical Reading Of Reflective Texts, Le Thanh Thao, Pham Trut Thuy

The Qualitative Report

This article reimagines teacher reflection not as data to be analyzed, but as a relational and affective space to be inhabited. Drawing on the principles of auto-theory and post-qualitative inquiry, we approach a familiar dataset of Vietnamese English as a foreign language (EFL) teacher reflection through a method of writing-with, responding not through interpretation, but through resonance, hesitation, and companionship. Rather than coding or categorizing the texts, we lingered with their silences, rhythms, and rhetorical composure. What emerged was not a framework but a cartography: a radial constellation of five interwoven stances, including permission, composure, relational imprint, echoing, and unknowing. …

The Role Of Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre’S Rules In Enhancing The Effectiveness Of Omani Arbitration Law, Amel Kamel Abdallah

Sultan Qaboos University Legal Studies Journal

This Article presents a critical analysis of the 2022 Rules of the Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre and their role in enhancing the effectiveness of the provisions of Omani Arbitration Law No. 47/1997. It examines how these rules address practical challenges that have arisen in the application of the law at certain stages of the arbitration process, particularly the arbitration agreement and the constitution of the arbitral tribunal. Furthermore, the article highlights the role of the Omani judiciary in bridging some legislative gaps within the field of arbitration. In the first section, the article examines issues related to the arbitration agreement …

Compensation For Damage Caused By Blood Transfusions- A Fundamental Study, Maryam Salim Saif Al-Wahaybi, Rahima Hamad Al Kharusi, Saif Nasser Abdullah Al-Mamari

Sultan Qaboos University Legal Studies Journal

The therapeutic need for blood transfusions depends on each patient’s diagnosis and medical requirement determined by the medical practitioner. Despite the great importance of blood transfusions constitute a therapeutic method that errors can sometimes cause harms. Therefore, this research sheds light on the compensation due to those harmed by blood transfusions, by studying the types of damage resulting from blood transfusions, such as material and intent damage, in addition to the original and variable damages, and the research of those affected by these operations in the first section, while the second section deals with the criteria of estimating compensation and …

Granite Staters Worried About Political Violence, Mass Shootings; Trump Approval Continues To Slide 9/30/2025, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

Three-quarters of New Hampshire residents say they are worried about political violence, while two-thirds are concerned about mass shootings. A majority in the Granite State oppose President Trump's deployment of the National Guard to American cities and few would feel safer if soldiers were deployed to cities in New Hampshire. Approval of Trump's handling of foreign policy, the economy, and his overall job have declined since August, and approval of his handling of the economy is at its lowest point in either of Trump's terms. Just over one-third of state residents approve of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. …

What Works, For Whom, In What Circumstances And Why, When Integrating Voluntary And Statutory Community Mental Health Services: A Realist Evaluation Case Study, Charley Hobson-Merrett, Rebecca Hardwick, Jane Yeandle, Beccy Wardle, Catherine Connor, John Gibson, Vanessa Pinfold, Alexandra Stirzaker, Richard Byng

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Integration of voluntary and statutory mental health services may address gaps in mental health care. The Community Mental Health Framework for Adults and Older Adults 2019 provided impetus for integration within England. It was unknown how, why, or under what circumstances integration would occur.Methods: A realist evaluation of Framework implementation in Somerset was undertaken. The extent of change, and how, why and under what circumstances change occurred were evaluated. Embedded researchers collected observational and interview data, and reviewed internal records. Realist qualitative analysis created and tested a programme theory exploring the extent, cause, and impact of change.Results: Services worked …

Patrick Nicholas V. Smithfield Sci

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Usa V. Lashaumba Randolph

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

In Re: U Lock, Inc

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Assessing Community Engagement In The Standard Gauge Railway Project In Tanzania: A Case Study Of The Morogoro – Makutupora Segment, Chacha Timasi Nyakega, Oscar Whynijous Tefurukwa

BISNIS & BIROKRASI: Jurnal Ilmu Administrasi dan Organisasi

Governments play a critical role in engaging communities in decision-making processes directly affecting their daily lives. Such engagement influences the feasibility and success of project implementation. However, the degree of community engagement varies across different projects. This study examines community engagement and perceptions regarding the implementation of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project in Tanzania, focusing on Lot II, the Morogoro to Makutupora segment. The theoretical framework proposed by Fung guided the analysis. A qualitative approach was employed, with a sample of 30 respondents. Data were collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) and analyzed using content analysis. Findings indicate that …

Market-Economic Decentralization And Governance In Hargeisa Local Government, Somaliland, Mustafe Mahamoud Abdillahi, Bella Oluka Benjamin

BISNIS & BIROKRASI: Jurnal Ilmu Administrasi dan Organisasi

This study investigates the relationship between market-economic decentralization and governance within the Hargeisa Local Government in Somaliland. Market-economic decentralization, influenced by neoliberal principles, involves transferring decision-making authority to local levels to stimulate private sector engagement and economic efficiency. Despite comprehensive decentralization reforms initiated in 2001, Hargeisa continues to confront significant governance challenges, including institutional weaknesses, fiscal mismanagement, and corruption. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this research integrates quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with 269 local officials to assess the impact of decentralization on key governance indicators: accountability, transparency, and e-governance. The results demonstrate strong positive correlations between market-economic decentralization and improved …

Membrane And Electrodialysis Process On Reverse Osmosis Concentrate Treatment And Resource Recovery: A Review, Mei-Zhen Lim, Yeek-Chia Ho, Yuan-Liang Tai

Platform: A Journal of Engineering

Reverse osmosis (RO) has been increasingly implemented in wastewater treatment facilities due to its effectiveness in producing high-quality effluent suitable for reuse. Nevertheless, the process produces reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC), which presents considerable environmental management challenges. Hence, ROC treatment is becoming a critical aspect of wastewater management due to its high salinity and complex mix of pollutants. Pressure-driven membrane technologies, including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis, offer high removal efficiency but face challenges such as scaling, fouling, and require chemical cleaning to maintain efficiency. Electrically driven processes like electrodialysis (ED) and electrodialysis reversal (EDR) provide alternative solutions with enhanced …

Evaluation Of Finite Element Modelling Approaches For Soil Nailing In Plaxis, Khoo Chee Min, Lee Peir Tien, Cheah Siew Wai

Platform: A Journal of Engineering

Soil nailing is an in-situ ground reinforcement technique widely used for excavation support and slope stabilisation. Finite element modelling of soil-nailed structures fundamentally represents a three-dimensional (3D) soil-structure interaction problem. Traditionally, nails are simplified into equivalent rectangular elements (“smeared” technique) using geogrid or plate elements in 2D simulations. The introduction of embedded beam elements in PLAXIS has provided a new avenue for simulating discrete circular soil nails placed at designated spacings. This study evaluates three finite element modelling approaches: geogrid, plate, and embedded beam, for simulating a soil-nailed wall in PLAXIS 2D and 3D. Results are compared in terms of …

Compressibility Behavior On Stabilised Peat Soil: A Review, Khairun Najihah Kamarudin, Nurmunira Muhammad, Duraisamy Youventharan

Platform: A Journal of Engineering

Peat soil is problematic in geotechnical engineering due to its high compressibility, low shear strength, and low bearing capacity, making it prone to settling under loads. Effective soil treatment is essential, as traditional removal and replacement methods are unsustainable. This review evaluates the compressibility behaviour of peat stabilised with various stabilising agents, including the conventional and non-conventional additives. Soil stabilisation using chemical additives, including cement, lime, fly ash, gypsum, and recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), is widely applied. However, non-conventional additives alone are often less effective in stabilising peat. For example, peat treated with fly ash shows a behaviour similar to …

Stabilized Weak-Gradient Discontinuous Finite Elements With Optimal Error Estimates For Second-Order Elliptic Pdes, Aymen Laadhari

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

This work introduces an accurate finite element approach employing a new stabilized discrete weak gradient, designed for second-order elliptic problems on arbitrary conforming meshes. We formulate the approach within a discontinuous Galerkin framework and derive a consistent and coercive bilinear form. Appropriate error analysis on a model problem confirms optimal convergence. Building on the core analysis, we extend the method to more challenging settings, including time-dependent heterogeneous scenarios and a biophysically realistic optimal-control model of photobleaching in the budding yeast cell. We further illustrate the versatility of the weak-gradient construction by applying it to an unsteady level-set equation relevant to …

Cold-Shock Protein Scaffold For Engineering Non-Antibody Binding Proteins, Jack Mathew Webster

USF Patents

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods directed to non-antibody protein scaffolds derived from cold-shock proteins.

The Effect Of Competitive Group Exercises On Improving Offensive Skill Speed In Basketball For 12–14 Year Olds, Zuhair Salem Abdul Razzaq

Modern Sport

Basketball is characterized by great speed, especially physical speed and speed of skill performance, as they play an important role in achieving sporting performances. Therefore, their importance has become apparent through interest in developing them according to specialized group exercises and a competitive atmosphere that helps them to adapt to the playing atmosphere for age groups of 12–14 years and building a correct Basketball base in the future. The research problem was: Skill and physical performance speed are not at the desired level as they progress through the training stages, including for youth and advanced players. Therefore, paying attention to …

Standardization Of A Visual Depth Test Tailored For Under-19 Tennis Athletes, Ibtisam Husham Jabur, Warda Ali Abbas

Modern Sport

This research provides coaches with a standardized, scientifically validated test to assess visual depth in youth tennis players under 19. The test aims to facilitate continuous evaluation of players’ performance during both training and official competitions. The research addresses the lack of standardized tests that accurately assess visual depth in youth tennis players under 19, particularly under conditions simulating actual competition. The absence of such essential assessment tools for this age group constitutes a significant research gap. Therefore, the researchers undertook the task of designing and standardizing the test. The objectives of the research included designing and standardizing a test …

Conference Proceedings: Select Abstracts Presented At The 2025 Advocate Aurora Scientific Day, Advocate Aurora Scientific Day

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

This abstract supplement includes findings presented through oral or poster presentations at the 51st annual Scientific Day event held on May 21, 2025. Scientific Day provides both an in-person and virtual forum for the sharing of research, quality improvement, and case studies conducted by Illinois- and Wisconsin-based faculty, fellows, residents, and other health professionals associated with Advocate Health.

Rising Waters, Falling Taxes: The Impact Of Hurricane Sandy On Property Tax Assessments In New York City, Wei Guo, Qing Miao, Yusun Kim, Yilin Hou

Center for Policy Research

Climate disasters pose fiscal challenges for local governments by increasing recovery costs and demand for property tax relief. Homeowners with or without property damage face tax burdens that may not match changes to their property value. This study examines the impact of Hurricane Sandy on property values and tax assessments in New York City. Using a difference-in-differences approach and comprehensive property-level data, we find that (1) inundated properties faced greater tax burdens due to limited declines in taxable value; (2) unaffected properties in flood zones saw tax burden increases due to declining market values and unchanged taxable values; and (3) …

The Effect Of Differential Training Method Exercises On Developing Mental Imagery And Fundamental Skills In Football, Muthanna Sattar Hussein, Taghreed Mahdi Kadhim

Modern Sport

This study investigated the impact of a differential-training regimen on mental imagery and core technical skills among under-21 footballers in Baghdad, Iraq. Using a descriptive-experimental design, thirty youth-club players completed a six-week intervention consisting of three 90-minute sessions per week featuring varied, non-repetitive, game-representative tasks (passing in congestion, dribbling under pressure, finishing from multiple angles, and positional rotations). Outcomes included standardized tests of mental imagery and fundamental skills-ball control, passing, shooting, dribbling, and receiving-supplemented by a player questionnaire evaluating program clarity, variety, motivation, engagement, task difficulty, and perceived improvement. Paired-samples t-tests showed statistically significant pre- to post-intervention gains in mental …

Cyber Operations As A Challenge To The Implementation Of International Humanitarian Law (Ihl), Anfaal Said Al-Nabhani

Sultan Qaboos University Legal Studies Journal

Cyber operations are thought to be one of IHL’s main challenges. This research examines cyber operations in armed conflicts, focusing on the following legal issues such as the definition of combatants and military objectives, attribution and responsibility, and the protection of civilians and civilian objects. This paper will contribute to the legal discourse on cyber threats, which will uniform future multilateral conventions regulating cyber warfare. This research paper adopted an analytical approach to assess the applicability of IHL in cyber warfare. Its results indicates that existing IHL rules are insufficient to cover cyber operations. The researcher recommends that the international …

Quality Improvement Project Improving Faculty Support For First-Generation Rural Nursing Students, Charlotte Dowdy

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The barriers to academic success among first-generation rural nursing students are substantial, including a lack of knowledge of academic resources, ineffective study strategies, and difficulty navigating the higher education system. These challenges are documented in the literature as resulting in higher attrition rates and lower graduation rates. This quality improvement project was intended to implement and analyze a faculty training module designed to increase faculty awareness and confidence in supporting first-generation rural nursing students at the project site. The project adopted a pre-post intervention design based on High-Reliability Organization principles and Lewin’s Change Model, to determine the effectiveness of targeted …

Executive Committee - Minutes, 09/30/2025, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

Public Perceptions Of Universities As Public Entities During The Covid-19 Pandemic Era, Jinho Jung, Laura Barrett, Nicole Olynk Widmar, Mario Ortez

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Higher education institutions are facing challenges in navigating social, cultural, and political issues. The online presence of higher education presents a new set of opportunities and challenges; knowledge, news, and continuing education are increasingly disseminated online. Additionally, the public, student bodies and stakeholders are increasingly looking at reviews or seeking opinions via online and social media to form opinions on institutions. This analysis uses online and social media to analyze and compare perceptions of two public universities in Indiana, namely Purdue University and Indiana University. These two Indiana institutions are located in the same state, allowing for comparisons of public …

Clinical And Genetic Studies Of Hypotrichosis In District Pakpattan, Punjab, Pakistan, Amir Anees, Muhammad Abdullah, Khawar Hayyat, Muhammad Irshad, Muhammad Iqbal Usama, Muhammad Saleem Khan, Muhammad Rizwan, Muhammad Wajid

Journal of Bioresource Management

Hypotrichosis is a hereditary hair development condition that results in thin or little hair on the head and other regions of the body due to diminished or non-existent hair growth. To investigate the prevalence rate, the mechanism of inheritance, and the genetic counselling of people affected by these conditions. To determine the number of cases of familial hypotrichosis, a survey was done at various schools, colleges, hospitals, and communities to identify those affected by this ailment. A study of eleven families with consanguineous marriages found that 10.52 % of the population had hypotrichosis. The affected individuals had limited hair growth …

A Survey Of Expert Decision‐Making In Functional Analysis Methodology, Audrey N. Hoffmann, Megan A. Boyle

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling Faculty Publications

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) relies on functional behavior assessments (FBAs) like functional analysis (FA) to address challenging behaviors effectively. FA, the most rigorous FBA method, accurately identifies underlying functional variables, guiding targeted interventions. Despite FA's proven efficacy, its integration into ABA practice is limited. This inconsistency may stem from inadequate training on FA methodologies' strengths and limitations. This study surveyed recognized FA experts to identify their recommendations for selecting FA methods. Fifteen experts participated, sharing insights on backgrounds, training needs, and decision‐making criteria across 11 FA variations. Experts emphasized considering multiple FA methodologies and offered detailed considerations for practitioners selecting …

2143 Acp Llc V. James

All Decisions

The landlord initiated a non-payment proceeding. The tenant moved to amend their answer to assert claims including rent overcharge and unlawful deregulation, and for leave to conduct discovery from 1993 to the present. The court granted the tenant's motion to amend the answer, deeming it timely filed. Citing *W Pierre Assoc. LLC v Harvey*, the court found the tenant raised a question of fact regarding the reliability of the rent history, justifying discovery beyond the typical six-year look-back period to ascertain the unit's regulatory status and potential overcharge. Discovery was granted for document production, but interrogatories were partially denied for …