Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Welded Pipe Support Cracks, Leaks And Failure In Service For High Pressure And Medium Pressure Of Boiler Feedwater, W M Najib W Ismail, Mohd Syafiq Hafifi Kamisan, Muzzahhir M Hadzir

Platform: A Journal of Engineering

A critical incident unfolded within the interconnecting area unit of Utility Facilities, resulting in a significant service interruption to the supply of boiler feedwater (BFW) to the refinery cracker (RC) unit. The disruption stemmed from a leak along a longitudinally welded pipe support, initiating crack propagation along the pipe and fillet weld toe circumferentially. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis revealed the presence of iron oxide deposits and embrittled microstructure, exacerbated by hydrogen embrittlement, residual stress around the area of heat affected zone (HAZ) and an increase in secondary load of pipe bridge structure deformation, contributing to the crack initiation and …

Characterisation And Prediction Of Wax Precipitation For Effective Mitigation Using Data Analytics, Alek Deng Cyer Rehan, Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Platform: A Journal of Engineering

The precipitation of wax in crude oil pipelines poses a significant operational challenge for the petroleum industry. This study proposes a novel approach to characterising crude oil and predicting wax appearance temperature (WAT) using advanced data analytics techniques, including group method of data handling (GMDH), support verctor machines (SVM), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and various regression models, as alternatives to conventional artificial neural networks (ANN). Crude oil was classified into four categories: heavy oil/biodegraded, paraffinic oil, waxy oil, and light oil/paraffinic condensate. A detailed characterisation framework based on the gamma distribution function (GDF) was employed to split lumped hydrocarbon fractions …

Journey Of Electric Vehicle Implementation In Petronas Assets In Malaysia, M Aidil Mansor, Amri Ithnin, Nur Afidatul Anis Azmi

Platform: A Journal of Engineering

This paper focuses on the current industry challenges, efforts in deploying electric vehicles (EVs), the requirements and regulations, and the risks associated with EVs in the oil and gas industry. In recent years, EVs have successfully penetrated the automotive market to replace internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, as EVs tend to have a lower carbon footprint. This results from Malaysia’s commitment to the Kyoto Protocol 2002 and Paris Agreement 2016 to reduce 45% of gross domestic product (GDP) emission intensity by 2030. These two agreements were established to combat the rising global warming due to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, making …

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 …

Climate Change And Its Effects On Road Pavement Performance: A Review Of Current Research, Suleiman Aminu, Abdussalam Auwal Farouk, Abubakar Atiku Sadiq, Eberembu Adrian Oshioname, Hamma-Adama Mansur, Alhassan Hashim M, Ibrahim Muttaka Naiya, Isa Zahradeen, Baba Bashariya Mustapha, Babati Abuhanifa, Mshelia Musa Huranta

Platform: A Journal of Engineering

Climate change, marked by long-term shifts in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions, significantly challenges pavement infrastructure. This review synthesises research on climate change effects on pavement performance, highlighting temperature fluctuations and altered precipitation patterns as key factors affecting pavement durability and functionality. Temperature extremes cause asphalt softening, rutting, and increased freeze-thaw cycles, which lead to cracking and structural damage. Precipitation changes, including heavy rainfall and droughts, weaken pavements and accelerate material deterioration. The review explores adaptation strategies, such as advanced materials (e.g., modified asphalt binders) and design adjustments (e.g., increased pavement thickness and enhanced drainage). It also highlights mitigation …

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 …

High-Order Adaptive Solutions For Coupled Fractional Riccati Equations Via Daubechies Redundant Frames, Mutaz Mohammad, Alexander Trounev

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

Coupled fractional Riccati equations play a fundamental role in modeling complex systems with memory effects and anomalous diffusion, frequently arising in engineering, control theory, finance, and quantum mechanics. Their analytical and numerical treatment remains highly challenging due to the nonlocal nature of fractional-order derivatives and the presence of nonlinear coupling terms. This study introduces an adaptive numerical framework that combines the Caputo fractional derivative with redundant Daubechies wavelet frames. The method leverages multi-resolution analysis, compact support, and controlled redundancy to achieve accurate approximation of both localized and global solution features, particularly in scenarios characterized by singular behavior and long-range memory …

Near Real-Time Monitoring Reveals Extensive Recent Forest Disturbance In Ghana’S Protected Areas, Luofan Dong, Xiaojing Tang, Foster Mensah, Bashara Ahmed Abubakari, Kelsee H. Bratley, Pontus Olofsson, Curtis E. Woodcock

Faculty Scholarship

The Protected Areas (PAs) in Ghana play a critical role in preserving the abundant biodiversity of the West Africa Green Belt. But recent changes in policies and regulations have facilitated logging and mining activities, which have accelerated forest disturbances. While there is a consensus that PAs are undergoing destructive change, the extent, rate, and locations of forest disturbances are undocumented. In this study, we applied the fusion near real-time (FNRT) algorithm that utilizes Landsat, Sentinel-1, and Sentinel-2 data and sampling to monitor forests in the PAs of Ghana. The results reveal that 704.74 (±177.24) km2 of forest in the PAs …

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.

Ole Miss Center Elevates Stem Education In Mississippi, Clara Turnage

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – A $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation will help support and train Mississippi teachers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

Quality Improvement Project High-Quality Simulation Training For High-Quality Nurse Educators, Cherrelle Hawkins

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AASN) faculty use simulation as a teaching modality to assist nursing students in preparing for their clinical experiences by transitioning knowledge into practice. To successfully facilitate simulations, faculty must possess knowledge and competence in facilitating simulation sessions. Faculty at the practice site lacked these characteristics due to the nonexistence of a simulation training program. This quasi-experimental quality improvement project aimed to implement formal simulation training for faculty to influence self-perceived knowledge and competence in facilitation constructed by the Adult Learning Theory and the Awareness-Desire-Knowledge-Ability-Reinforcement (ADKAR) Change Model. The PI evaluated knowledge and competence …

Uab Libraries Q3 2025 Employee Updates, Uab Libraries

UAB Libraries News

No abstract provided.

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 Special Exercises On Developing Speed-Strength And Straight Punches For Junior Boxers, Omar Ali Mahdi

Modern Sport

The study aimed to prepare special exercises to develop speed-strength and straight punches for the research sample members. The research problem emerged as the researcher, being a boxing coach, observed a weakness in some physical abilities, including speed-strength, and inconsistency in the skill performance level (straight punches). Accordingly, the researcher prepared special exercises aimed at developing some physical abilities., including speed-strength and the performance of straight punches for juniors, and to contribute to improving and developing the players’ level, finding positive solutions, and understanding their impact on performance. The researcher used the experimental method. The sample consisted of junior boxers …

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 …

Engineered Exosomes With Krasg12d Specific Sirna In Pancreatic Cancer: A Phase I Study With Immunological Correlates, Valerie S Kalluri, Brandon G Smaglo, Krishnan K Mahadevan, Michelle L Kirtley, Kathleen M Mcandrews, Mayela Mendt, Sujuan Yang, Ana S Maldonado, Hikaru Sugimoto, Maria E Salvatierra, Luisa M Solis Soto, Cara Haymaker, Rick Finch, Mihai Gagea, Adam C Fluty, Steven J Ludtke, J Jack Lee, Abhinav K Jain, Gauri Varadhachary, Rachna T Shroff, Anirban Maitra, Elizabeth Shpall, Shubham Pant, Raghu Kalluri

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Oncogenic KRAS is amongst the key genetic drivers for initiation and maintenance of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Here, we show that engineered exosomes with KrasG12D specific siRNA (iExoKrasG12D) reveal a biodistribution in pancreas with negligible toxicity in preclinical studies in mice and Rhesus macaques. Clinical testing of iExoKrasG12D in the iEXPLORE (iExoKrasG12D in Pancreatic Cancer) Phase I study employed a non-randomized single-arm classical 3 + 3 dose escalation design (Phase Ia), followed by an accelerated titration design (Phase Ib) (NCT03608631). The primary outcomes included safety, tolerability and target engagement, and the secondary outcomes aimed to assess disease control. …

Exploring The Relationship Between Quality Audits Performance Metrics And Compliance Within Healthcare Quality Management Systems, Abdulrahman Abdullah Alrahmani

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

This research examines the complex interconnections for quality audits, performance measurements, and compliance rates inside a healthcare quality management system by analyzing data coming from 500 patients across several departments within a single hospital. The study adopts a quantitative methodology, including diverse healthcare quality metrics such as patient satisfaction, infection rates, readmission rates, and medical mistakes. Statistical analysis indicated a robust positive connection (r = 0.808, p < 0.05) between quality audit scores, and performance measures, indicating, that elevated audit scores strongly predicted superior hospital performance. The association between compliance rates, and performance measurements used to be poor (r = 0.004, p > 0.05), indicating a more intricate interaction within the quality management system analysis for departments including Cardiology, Neurology, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, and General Medicine revealed comparable trends, alongside correlation values between 0.77, and 0.83. ANOVA …

The Impact Of Media Convergence On Accounting Information System Effectiveness: A Contingency Conditions Perspective, Haetham H. Kasem Alkhaffaf, Alaa A. D. Taha, Arsalan Ibraheem Alafandi

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

This research investigates the effect of media convergence on AIS in SMEs in Iraq during emergencies. The adopted research methodology was quantitative in nature in which 301 accountants participated in the study, and the phenomenon was measured using partial least squares structural equation modelling (SEM-PLS). The findings reveal the net benefits of decision-making and demonstrate how useful they are for Iraqi SMEs to consider while making decisions based on the factors like civil strife and the COVID-19 outbreak. This research contributes to the literature by analysing the MCI according to the hypothetical model in the context of Iraqi SMEs and …

Contributing To Acari Knowledge: The First Report Of Trombidium Grandissimum From The Soils Of Cholistan Desert, Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan, Muhammad Adnan Bodlah, Alishbah Mohsin, Ayesha Younas, Aleena Kanwal, Imran Bodlah, Yasir Niaz, Shumaila Khan, Shabbir Hussain

Journal of Bioresource Management

Trombidium grandissimum is also known by names, red velvet mite, real velvet mite, giant red velvet mite and rain bug, belongs to the family Trombidiidae and subclass Acari. Red velvet mite has four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Adult red velvet mites were collected from agricultural farm area of Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering & Information Technology. Important taxonomic features were revealed by morphological study, including a body length of around half of an inch, velvety, unridged skin with dense hairs, stalked eyes, and specialized organs on the anterior legs including sensilla and claws. Carotene-induced bright red coloring …

The Consideration Of Two Scalarization Methods For The Multi-Objective Nurse-To-Patient Assignment Problem, Ilgın Acar, Steven E. Butt, Aydın Sipahioğlu, İslam Altın

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

In this research, the application of two scalarization methods, namely the conic scalarization method and the $\varepsilon$-constraint method, is investigated within the context of a multi-objective optimization problem. These methods are used to address the challenge of assigning nurses to patients on a hospital unit during a shift. The two objective functions of this assignment problem are based on patient workload metrics and unit-related travel distance measures. The proposed solution approach demonstrates the ability to generate solutions that eluded the previous mathematical programming techniques that relied on simplistic weightings of conflicting objective functions. In addition, it is found that the …

Global Stability And Bifurcation Analysis Of A Predator-Prey Model Involving Allee Effect And Monod-Haldane Functional Response, Resmawan Resmawan, Agus Suryanto, Isnani Darti, Hasan S. Panigoro

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

In this paper, the complexity of the dynamic behavior of the interaction between prey and predator is studied. The predator-prey relationship involves Allee effects and Monod-Haldane functional response. The constructed model has been shown to have validity in several respects, including the existence and uniqueness of the solution, as well as its non-negativity and boundedness. Three equilibrium points, namely trivial, axial, and coexistence points, are found, including their global dynamics using the Lyapunov function together with the LaSalle's invariance principle. The effect of the predation conversion rate causes changes in the dynamic behavior of predators and prey, which is characterized …

Solution Of Fractional Order Diffusion Equations With Clique Neural Network, Merve Zeynep Kaya, Mesut Karabacak, Ercan Çelik

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

In this paper, the clique artificial neural network method is used to solve the fractional diffusion equation, which is a subclass of partial differential equations. The clique neural network architecture is constructed using input, hidden, and output layers. Several degrees of clique polynomials were used as activation functions, and the output layer was obtained by multiplying them with weight coefficients. Subsequently, the optimization equation was derived, and the exact solution, numerical solution, and error function graphs were obtained using a specialized algorithm. Analysis of the results demonstrates that the clique artificial neural network method provides quicker and more accurate results …

Synergistic Modeling Of Hydrogel Gelation Via Time-Delay Dynamics And Machine Learning Algorithms, Mine Babaoglu, Dipesh ., Pankaj Kumar, Jagjit Singh Dhatterwal, Mansoor Alsulami

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

This paper presents an integrated framework in which delay differential equation (DDE) modeling and machine learning (ML) approaches are coupled to study hydrogel formation kinetics, with emphasis on delayed crosslinker addition. Conventional mechanistic models disclose many physical and kinetic complexities of reacting mixtures; they seldom depict the nonlinear and time-evolving complexities inherent in developing polymer networks. To address this, a mathematical model is developed that examines how the insertion of crosslinkers affects system stability and equilibrium. Analytical and numerical results show that delays nearing critical levels cause bifurcation behavior with substantial implications on gelation kinetics. Sophisticated machine learning systems, including …

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Field Sampling (Fsp): Bres No.177 - North Alice Culvert (Dated August 21, 2025), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Long-Acting Recombinant Il-7 (Rhil-7-Hyfc) Enhances The Primary And Memory Neoantigen-Specific Immune Response To Breast Cancer Personalized Cancer Vaccines, Michael Chen, Thomas Kane, Ina Chen, Suangson Supabphol, Xiuli Zhang, Alexandra A Wolfarth, Donghoon Choi, Lijin Li, S Peter Goedegebuure, William E Gillanders

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Review On Exploring The Potential Of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens) As A Novel Feed Ingredient For Poultry, Muhammad Naeem Jan, Nasir Rajput, Muhammad Naeem, Sher Ali, Ghulam Shabir Barham, Tehseen Fatima Miano

Journal of Bioresource Management

Poultry provides both direct and indirect employment opportunities to individuals. Every farm owner desires a reduced investment with more earnings. Over 50 % of the overall cost of chicken rearing is allocated to feed stuff. Among all feed ingredients, protein sources are the most expensive, yet protein is essential for production and growth. This exorbitant price cannot be sustained by the small-scale farmers. Consequently, contemporary scientists are attempting to substitute the protein supply with black soldier fly in their formulations. This review study examines the advantageous effect of utilizing Black Soldier Fly powder, larvae or oil, as demonstrated in scientific …

Charting Truth, Trust, And Transformers: A Critical Look At Ai Text Detection And Recommendations For Medical Journals, Hari Mudipalli, Mahtab Milburn, Souritya Saha, Jamie Fairclough

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

This editorial provides an overview of large language models (LLMs), the risks associated with their use, and the challenges involved in using artificial intelligence (AI) to determine the extent to which LLMs have been used to write text, including articles for publication in medical journals. As narratives generated by LLMs become increasingly difficult to distinguish from human writing, concerns have emerged about their impact on scholarly communication, particularly in health and medicine. The medical community is becoming more aware of various tools that can detect AI-generated text; however, adopting these tools comes with unique challenges. The purpose of this article …

Understanding The Burden Of Myocardial Infarction And Patient Preferences For Treatment: A Real-World Study Assessing Patients’ Perspectives Via An Online Survey, M. Cecilia Bahit, Serge Korjian, Gerald Chi, Yazan Daaboul, Alberto Castro Molina, Ginger Jiang, Christiana Dangas, Mudit Tandon, Deepak L. Bhatt, Roxana Mehran, Harriette G.C. Van Spall, Paul Nara, Alka Shaunik, Charles Michael Gibson

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Myocardial infarction (MI) remains to be associated with a high risk of recurrent cardiovascular events and disease burden. This study assessed patient perspectives on the burden of disease and treatment in the first year post-MI.

Methods: Data were collected via a self-administered online questionnaire posted on the Carenity patient platform in the United States (10/30/2022−12/30/2022). Only patients who had an MI in the prior year were eligible for inclusion.

Results: A total of 151 patients completed the survey. The majority were men (69%), median age was 50 years, and 38% had an MI within the previous 90 days. Overall, …