Digital Commons Network^™

Usa V. Norberto Castillo-Lopez

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Neural Representations Of Valence And Arousal In Kung Fury, Jason A. Davis

Cognitive Science Senior Theses

Emotions are a core component of human experience and behavior, yet after decades of scientific research, it is still difficult to uncover the neural substrates related to emotion. Recent advances in neuroscience have examined how we interpret emotional signals from static images of facial expressions, but less work has sought to understand how the brain constructs our emotional experiences (Chen, 2020). To investigate such idiosyncratic experiences across participants, we employed naturalistic stimuli to model the real-time, reliable changes in activity that correspond to changes in emotional experience. A primary element of emotional experience is core affect, defined as the mental …

Jerome Enters. Llc V. Javed

All Decisions

The court granted the tenant's motion to dismiss the landlord's nonpayment case because the building lacked a valid Certificate of Occupancy, which prohibits the collection of rent. The court also held the landlord in civil contempt for failing to comply with a prior so-ordered stipulation to make repairs, which prejudiced the tenant's ability to secure a Section 8 voucher. The landlord's petition was dismissed, but the case was restored to the calendar for a pre-trial conference to address the tenant's counterclaims and determine damages for the contempt finding.

Fixed Income Mathematics, Kenneth S. Bigel

Open Touro Created

2025

Bond Math is at the center of the functioning of the bond markets, yet this critical sub-finance discipline is usually not accessible to the typical investor. This is an approachable study of the mathematical theories underlying Fixed Income instruments. It is not a study of bonds per se or the bond markets. The text commences with a basic review of the time value of money, i.e., the theory of compound interest. It then proceeds to discuss how bond prices and yields are determined. Next, it covers the relationships between bond prices and general movements of interest rates in the …

Revised Unsteady Drag Force And Its Impact On Particle Dynamics At High Reynolds Numbers, Ahmad Talaei, Timothy J. Garrett

Physics Student Research

The accurate modeling of particle motion in viscous fluids at high Reynolds numbers remains a fundamental challenge, particularly under unsteady flow conditions where nonlinear effects dominate. This study introduces a revised unsteady drag formulation, extending its applicability beyond previous studies. By integrating classical solutions of the Navier–Stokes equations, the new formulation overcomes the limitations of the Maxey–Riley–Gatignol (MRG) equation, addressing non-physical memory effects associated with Basset drag and extending its applicability to higher Reynolds numbers.

Through experimental comparisons and direct numerical simulations (DNS), the revised equation of motion is compared to the MRG equation, both during steady-state conditions and non-equilibrium …

Risky Business: Organizational Challenges In International Support For Civilian Self-Protection, J. M. Welsh, Emily Paddon Rhoads, J. Masullo

Political Science Faculty Works

Over the last decade, a range of international actors has moved away from direct forms of intervention to protect civilian populations in favor of “bottom-up” approaches that emphasize external support for civilian self-protection (CSP). While this indirect action is often perceived to be less costly, more legitimate, and potentially more effective, we argue that external support for CSP is a “risky business” that presents a significant dilemma for international governmental and nongovernmental organizations. Drawing on literature from sociology, economics, and civil war studies, we conceptualize and categorize the risks of unintended consequences that could accompany external support for CSP and …

Human Rights And Foreign Policy: South Africa's Genocide Complaint Against Israel At The International Court Of Justice, Penelope Andrews

Minnesota Journal of International Law, Vols. 28:2 onward (2019-present)

No abstract provided.

International Abolitionist Advocacy: The Rise Of Global Networks To Advance Human Rights And The Promise Of The Worldwise Campaign To Abolish Capital Punishment, John D. Bessler

Minnesota Journal of International Law, Vols. 28:2 onward (2019-present)

The modern international human rights movement began with the U.N. Charter and the U.N. General Assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Although the movement to abolish the death penalty is rooted in the Enlightenment, global advocacy to halt executions and to abolish capital punishment has accelerated exponentially in recent decades. This Article discusses the origins of global networks to advance human rights and highlights the growing international advocacy, including by nation-states and nongovernmental organizations (“NGOs”), for a worldwide moratorium on executions and to abolish capital punishment altogether. The total number of countries conducting executions in the past …

Establishing A "Duty To Not Destroy": Using Fiduciary Duty To Hold Settler-Colonial States Responsible For Cultural And Linguistic Harms Committed Against Indigenous Students At Government-Run Boarding Schools, Kristina Mclaughlin

Minnesota Journal of International Law, Vols. 28:2 onward (2019-present)

No abstract provided.

Role Of Interventional Pulmonology In Intensive Care Units: A Scoping Review, Abdul Rahman R Halawa, Saad Farooq, Mohammad Asim Amjad, Pushan P Jani, Sujith V Cherian

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Interventional pulmonology (IP) represents a rapidly growing and developing subspecialty within pulmonary medicine. To the intensivist, given the elaborate undertakings with respect to airway, lung and pleural disease management-IP has shown an increasing presence and remain a major ally in the care of these patients. Thus, an understanding of the different roles that IP could offer to the intensivist is of prime importance in the multi-disciplinary care of the complex patients within the intensive care units, particularly in relation to lung, airway and pleural diseases. This review article will explore the different intersections of IP in critical care and discuss …

A Forward Genetic Screen Identifies Potassium Channel Essentiality In Shh Medulloblastoma Maintenance, Jerry J Fan, Anders W Erickson, Julia Carrillo-Garcia, Xin Wang, Patryk Skowron, Xian Wang, Xin Chen, Guanqiao Shan, Wenkun Dou, Shahrzad Bahrampour, Yi Xiong, Weifan Dong, Namal Abeysundara, Michelle A Francisco, Ronwell J Pusong, Wei Wang, Miranda Li, Elliot Ying, Raúl A Suárez, Hamza Farooq, Borja L Holgado, Xiaochong Wu, Craig Daniels, Adam J Dupuy, Juan Cadiñanos, Allan Bradley, Anindya Bagchi, Branden S Moriarity, David A Largaespada, A Sorana Morrissy, Vijay Ramaswamy, Stephen C Mack, Livia Garzia, Peter B Dirks, Xuejun Li, Siyi Wanggou, Sean Egan, Yu Sun, Michael D Taylor, Xi Huang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Distinguishing tumor maintenance genes from initiation, progression, and passenger genes is critical for developing effective therapies. We employed a functional genomic approach using the Lazy Piggy transposon to identify tumor maintenance genes in vivo, and applied this to SHH medulloblastoma (MB). Combining Lazy Piggy screening in mice and transcriptomic profiling of human MB, we identified the voltage-gated potassium channel KCNB2 as a candidate maintenance driver. KCNB2 governs cell volume of MB-propagating cells, with KCNB2 depletion causing osmotic swelling, decreased plasma membrane tension, and elevated endocytic internalization of EGFR, thereby mitigating proliferation of MB-propagating cells to ultimately impair MB growth. …

Lrrc8 Channel Complexes Counterbalance Katp Channels To Mediate Swell-Secretion Coupling In Mouse Pancreatic Β Cells, Tarek Mohamed Abd El-Aziz, Chen Kang, Litao Xie, John D. Tranter, Sumit Patel, Rahul Chadda, Maria S. Remedi, Rajan Sah

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells is initiated by membrane potential depolarization, followed by activation of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels to trigger Ca2+-mediated insulin vesicle fusion with the β cell plasma membrane. Here, we show that β cell swelling associated with glucose metabolism was sensed by LRRC8 channel complexes and contributed to insulin secretion. Hypertonic perfusate (360-380 mOsm) dose dependently impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion by counteracting β cell swelling. Hypotonic perfusate alone, independent of glucose stimulation or KATP channel closure, was sufficient to increase β cell intracellular Ca2+ and trigger insulin secretion. Inhibition of sodium-potassium-chloride cotransporter-1 with bumetanide, which diminished the …

Reproductive Rights At Work: The Role Of Organizations In Menstrual Support, Emily Julia Ready

Dissertations and Theses

Painful menstrual symptoms affect up to 90% of people with uteruses globally. These symptoms can result in lost productivity at work and absenteeism for working individuals. Normative work structures have not been designed with accessibility and inclusivity for those with uteruses in mind. Therefore, women and those with uteruses have often had to work through barriers with no accommodations or systematic change. Currently, there is no published research in the United States on the nuances of the relationship between menstruation and work with the intention of exploring effective solutions. There has been discussion related to menstrual supportive policies, but there …

Angela Asante And Anita Asante As Administrators Of The Estate Of John Asante V. Westfield

All Decisions

In a holdover proceeding, the tenant moved to dismiss for lack of standing, asserting the landlord, as administrators, transferred property title to themselves individually prior to commencement. The court found that a proceeding initiated by an improper party is a nullity and cannot be cured by amendment or substitution, as standing must exist at the time of commencement. Since the estate did not own the premises, the proceeding was dismissed without prejudice, denying the landlord's motions to amend and substitute as moot.

Cultural Continuity And Identity Preservation In Diaspora: The Role Of African Pentecostal Churches In Maintaining Traditions Within African Communities In The United States, Olamide T. Awoyemi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the role of African Pentecostal churches in preserving cultural traditions andshaping identities among African diaspora communities in the United States, focusing specifically on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) and Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC) in Tampa, Florida. Through detailed participant observation and in-depth qualitative interviews, this thesis examines how rituals, religious practices, and community engagement within these churches facilitate cultural continuity and identity negotiation among Nigerian and Ghanaian immigrants. Findings reveal that these religious institutions serve as critical sites for resisting cultural erasure, navigating the complex tensions between maintaining African heritage and adapting to American society, and providing …

Specialized Insectivores Drive Differences In Avian Community Composition Between Primary And Secondary Forest In Central Africa, Eleanor M. Barrie, Billi A. Krochuk, Crinan Jarrett, Diogo F. Ferreira, Patricia F. Rodrigues, Susana Lin Mufumu, Silvestre Esteban Malanza, Agustin Ebana Nsue Akele, Cayetano Ebana Ebana Alene, Kristin Brzeski, Jacob C. Cooper, Jared Wolfe, Luke L. Powell

Michigan Tech Publications

The human population of sub-Saharan Africa is projected to triple by 2100, drastically increasing anthropogenic pressure on biodiversity. When rainforest is disturbed by anthropogenic drivers, species respond heterogeneously; these patterns have rarely been quantified for Congo rainforest fauna. Our objective was to understand how community composition changed with human disturbance—with particular interest in the guilds and species that indicate primary rainforest. At a long-term bird banding site on mainland Equatorial Guinea, we captured over 3200 birds across 6 field seasons in selectively logged secondary forest and in largely undisturbed primary forest. Our multivariate ordination indicated a significant split between primary …

Xorcompactor: A Zero-Copy, Reversible Memory Defragmentation Technique For Operating Systems, Mostefa Sayeh Mr

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure introduces XORCompactor, a novel, reversible, zero-copy memory defragmentation technique for operating systems. Unlike traditional memory movers such as memmove() or memcpy(), XORCompactor performs in-place compaction by leveraging a mathematical XOR-based transformation to swap and relocate memory segments without auxiliary buffers or double-copy overhead. This method ensures lossless reversibility, enabling safe rollback, debugging, and deterministic state recovery. The technique improves memory utilization, reduces fragmentation latency, and supports deterministic behavior in embedded and real-time systems.

XORCompactor includes the proposal of a new instruction-level operation, XOR_MOV, and outlines potential hardware integration for high-throughput memory management. The algorithm has …

Dlfp: A Deterministic Instruction Fetch Architecture For Safety-Critical Electronics, Mostefa Sayeh Mr

Defensive Publications Series

DLFP (Dual-Layer Fetch Pathway) is a novel deterministic instruction fetch architecture tailored for safety-critical systems requiring strict execution timing and resilience. It introduces the Instruction Heatmap Engine (IHE), a lightweight classification mechanism that segments instructions into Hot, Warm, and Cold zones based on execution behavior. By combining this classification with layered fetch queues (L0–L3), DLFP enables deterministic scheduling, thermal-aware promotion, and reduced fetch latency variability. This approach strengthens system predictability, mitigates speculative execution vulnerabilities such as Spectre and Meltdown, and enhances safety in real-time environments including SCADA, avionics, medical electronics, and autonomous robotics. DLFP offers a foundational architecture …

Animal Exploitation At Early Bronze Age Ashqelon, Afridar: What The Bones Tell Us—Initial Analysis Of The Animal Bones From Areas E, F And G, Sarah Whitcher Kansa

'Atiqot

No abstract provided.

The Flint Assemblages From Ashqelon, Afridar—Areas G And J, Vladimir G. Zbenovich

'Atiqot

No abstract provided.

Excavations At Ashqelon, Afridar—Area G, Eliot Braun, Ram Gophna

'Atiqot

No abstract provided.

An Early Bronze Age Site At Ashqelon, Afridar—Area F, Hamoudi Khalaily

'Atiqot

No abstract provided.

The Ground Stone Assemblage From Ashqelon, Afridar—Area E, Yorke M. Rowan

'Atiqot

No abstract provided.

The Flint Assemblage From Ashqelon, Afridar—Area E, Vladimir G. Zbenovich

'Atiqot

No abstract provided.

Salvage Excavations At The Early Bronze Age Site Of Ashqelon, Afridar—Area E, Amir Golani

'Atiqot

No abstract provided.

Hybrid Neutrosophic Multi-Criteria Decision Model For Guest Selection In Collaborative Tourism Platforms, Vladimir Vega Falcón, Yoarnelys Vasallo Villalonga, Lorenzo Cevallos-Torres

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study presents a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model applied to the guest selection process in Airbnb-style vacation rentals. The model integrates the PAPRIKA method, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and Neutrosophic TOPSIS to evaluate and rank potential guests based on multiple criteria prioritized by experienced property owners. Through the 1000minds software, pairwise comparisons were conducted to elicit preferences and derive normalized weights for six key criteria, with “review history” emerging as the most influential. These weights were then incorporated into classical and neutrosophic TOPSIS evaluations to account for uncertainty, indeterminacy, and subjectivity in guest profiles. Results highlight consistent rankings across …

Structural Conditions And Ethical Dilemmas Of The Integration Of Artificial Intelligence In Latin American Public Higher Education, Paola Elizabeth Cortez Clavijo, Marjorie Alexandra Coronel Suárez, Lourdes Hilda Ortega Maldonado, Félix Javier Rosales Borbor, Cynthia Nataly Espíndola Vásquez, María Magdalena Gonzabay Espinoza, Mónica Karina Jaramillo Infante, Xavier Eduardo Espíndola Vásquez

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study, using a neutrosophic approach, evaluates the integration of artificial intelligence in Latin American public higher education, focusing on the perceptions and ethical dilemmas of university stakeholders. Two groups of students in a scientific writing course were compared: one that used AI tools during the writing process and another that employed traditional methods. The results show that the use of AI favors active participation and the final quality of the essays, although it does not significantly impact prior knowledge or argumentative depth. The intervention reveals both benefits, such as greater engagement and improved performance, and ethical tensions related to …

Analysis Of Indicator Dynamics In Agricultural Sustainability Using Neutrosophic Cognitive Maps, Carlos Balmaseda -Espinosa, Oscar Caicedo- Camposano, Nadia Quevedo-Pinos, Dacil González-González

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Agricultural sustainability is a complex system influenced by interconnected environmental, economic, and sociocultural factors, whose relationships are often marked by uncertainty. This study addresses the interdependence of these factors using Neutrosophic Cognitive Maps (NCMs), a methodology capable of modeling causality in complex systems by incorporating degrees of truth, falsity, and indeterminacy. Twelve key indicators across the three dimensions of sustainability were selected, and an NCM was constructed based on expert criteria to visualize and analyze their dynamic interactions. Centrality analysis, following a de-neutrosophication process, revealed that sociocultural indicators, specifically the well-being of the agricultural community (X12) and the preservation of …

Multi-Neutrosophic Ayni Method Based On Ancestral Logic And N-Alectic Reasoning For Ethical Ai And Sustainability, Maikel Y. Leyva Vázquez, Noel Batista Hernandez, Edwin Alberto Callejas, Florentin Smarandache

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This article presents the Multi-Neutrosophic Ayni Method, a novel framework that integrates Latin American Indigenous philosophies with neutrosophic logic to guide ethical and sustainable AI development. Grounded in ancestral principles such as Ayni, Buen Vivir, In Lak’ech, ch’ixi, and nepantla, this approach models plural, ambiguous, and context-dependent ethical judgments through Multi-Neutrosophic Sets (MNS). A key contribution is the introduction of the Euclidean Multi-Neutrosophic Consensus Measure, which quantifies the degree of alignment among diverse stakeholders' evaluations without erasing epistemic differences. This measure enables the detection of convergence thresholds in intercultural deliberation, offering a rigorous yet flexible tool for decision-making. The method …

Intercultural Dialogue In The Meeting On Neutrosophy And Latin American Worldviews: A Perspective From The Náhuat Indigenous Chair Of The Technological University Of El Salvador, Morena Guadalupe Magaña

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This article presents a reflective analysis of the intercultural forum held during the Meeting on Neutrosophy and Latin American Worldviews, focusing on the contribution of the Náhuat Indigenous Chair at the Technological University of El Salvador. Drawing on philosophical and decolonial frameworks, it explores how the revitalization of the Náhuat language serves as both an act of cultural resistance and an epistemological statement. The Chair's initiatives—including teacher training, language certification, and community-based educational projects—are examined as concrete expressions of intercultural commitment. These efforts are contextualized within a broader critique of historical erasure, media manipulation, and social forgetting that have affected …