Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Genetic Ancestry On Survival Outcomes In Pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Report From The Children’S Oncology Group, Ekene A Onwuka, Christina L Magyar, Bailey A Martin-Giacalone, Michael E Scheurer, Deborah A Marquez-Do, Elizabeth G Atkinson, Michael A Arnold, Donald A Barkauskas, David Hall, Javed Khan, Jack F Shern, Paul Scheet, Brian Crompton, Corinne M Linardic, Douglas S Hawkins, Rajkumar Venkatramani, Lisa Mirabello, Chad D Huff, Melissa A Richard, Philip J Lupo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Emerging evidence suggests genetic ancestry may influence childhood cancer outcomes, but its impact on pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is unknown. We explored genetic ancestry's impact on survival among children with RMS. This multi-center observational cohort study is a secondary analysis of previously collected biobanking, genomic, and clinical data. The study included 920 individuals with newly diagnosed RMS under 40 years of age enrolled from 2005 to 2017 under the COG soft tissue sarcoma biobanking protocol D9902. The primary endpoints were (1) event-free survival (EFS), defined as the time from study enrollment to tumor recurrence/progression, secondary malignancy, or death from any cause; …

Blunted Cd40-Responsive Enhancer Activation In Crebbp-Mutant Lymphomas Can Be Restored By Enforced Cd4 T-Cell Engagement, Haopeng Yang, Wenchao Zhang, Vida Ravanmehr, Guiling Cui, Kevin Bowman, Jared M Henderson, Estela Rojas, Ashley Wilson, Sydney Parsons, Ariel Mechaly, Leslie Regad, Ahmed Haouz, Christopher R Flowers, Sattva Neelapu, Loretta Nastoupil, R Eric Davis, Qing Deng, Fernando Rodrigues-Lima, Michael R Green

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The CREBBP lysine acetyltransferase (KAT) is frequently mutated in follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and has been studied using gene knockout in murine and human cells. However, most CREBBP mutations encode amino acid substitutions within the catalytic KAT domain (CREBBP KAT-PM) that retain an inactive protein and have not been extensively characterized. Using CRISPR gene editing and extensive epigenomic characterization of lymphoma cell lines, we found that CREBBP KAT-PM lead to unloading of CREBBP from chromatin, loss of enhancer acetylation, and prevention of EP300 compensation. These enhancers were enriched for those that are dynamically loaded by CREBBP in …

Conversational Systems For Social Care In Older Adults: Protocol For A Scoping Review, Rosiered Brownson-Smith, Ananya Ananthakrishnan, Oksana Hagen, Cen Cong, Amir Aly, Ray B. Jones, Edward Meinert

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Background: Social care systems worldwide face increasing demographic and financial pressures. This necessitates exploring innovative technological solutions to enhance service delivery without substantially increasing costs. Conversational interfaces, including interactive voice response, chatbots, and voice assistants, have gained traction as a means to improve accessibility and efficiency in social care. The rapid development of large language models such as ChatGPT has further accelerated interest in conversational artificial intelligence (AI). These technologies can offer intuitive interactions, particularly for individuals with limited digital literacy. However, their real-world impact, usability, and ethical considerations in social care remain underexplored. Objective: This scoping review aims to …

Innovations In Tavr: The Latest In Device Technology, Sahar Samimi, Waleed T Kayani, Syed Zaid

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Aortic stenosis is the most prevalent valvular disease globally. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become a well-established treatment for aortic stenosis, offering outcomes comparable to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Its use has expanded to include younger, lower-risk patients and those with more complex anatomies. Recent advancements in TAVR include the increased adoption of transfemoral access, prosthesis designs optimized for challenging anatomies, enhanced delivery systems with repositioning capabilities, and outer skirts to minimize paravalvular leaks. Despite these innovations, several challenges remain. This review highlights recent updates in transcatheter heart valve (THV) systems, leaflet modification devices, and the current limitations …

Biocompatible Ion Gel Sensors

Defensive Publications Series

Disclosed are sensors comprising electrodes, such as cutaneous electrodes. The electrodes comprise an ion gel superimposed on a host layer, such as poly(3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS). The ion gel is at least 30 percent crosslinked by weight with the remainder in liquid form. The ion gel is comprised of polymerizable/nonpolymerizable ionic liquid blend and a crosslinker, such as polyurethane dimethacrylate, urethane methacrylate oligomer, silicone acrylate, or acrylate. The host layer can be overlayed on an electrically conductive layer which, in turn, can be overlayed on a substrate. A suitable material for the substrate is polyimide. A suitable material for …

Techniques To Provide Audit Security Steering Policy Enforcement, Anshul Tanwar, Ashwin Kumar, Praveen G. R, Kumaril Kapoor

Defensive Publications Series

Dynamic and selective steering of traffic through a security device can create a certain level of interdependence between the security operations (SecOps) and network operations (NetOps) that traditionally operate as independent teams. For example, any deviation in the strict enforcement of the true traffic steering intent advised/authored by a SecOps team and configured by a NetOps teams on network devices can result in compliance issues and possibly security breaches. This submission proposes novel techniques that allow a SecOps team to independently audit and validate steering enforcement actions configured and managed by a NetOps team in order to ensure compliance with …

Tax Trends, E. S. Linett

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.

Factors Motivating Clothing Choice: Environmental Impact Of T-Shirts, Lauren Hunt

DePaul Discoveries

Second only to oil, the fashion industry is one of the most pollutive industries globally. Due to the rise of fast fashion, this environmental issue is continually growing. The level of production has dramatically increased while quality of apparel has decreased, causing shorter garment lifespans. This research utilizes life cycle assessment to identify the environmental impacts of various textiles used in the production of t-shirts, including cotton, polyester, viscose, and elastane. The research scope focuses from material extraction through garment disposal. The life cycle assessment research is paired with a community survey to determine consumer behavioral patterns surrounding clothing consumption …

Modifications To The Spiral Array: A Computational Approach To Music Analysis, Rose Bittle

DePaul Discoveries

The Spiral Array is a geometric model of musical tonality and exists as a tool in computer-aided music analysis. The model was first published in 2000 by Elaine Chew, PhD, in her thesis, Towards a Mathematical Model of Tonality. This project aimed to restructure the Spiral Array, limiting user ambiguity and optimizing the application of musical key finding. The existing model defines pitch, chord, and key location to form a series of spirals dependent on a set of flexible weights. In our research we were able to identify potential issues with the pitch definitions themselves and experiment with methods …

Resident Space Object Identification In Unresolved Optical Space Imagery Via Streak Detection, Carolin Pech

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Accurately identifying resident space objects (RSOs) within optical space imagery poses a key challenge in the realm of Space Situational Awareness (SSA). For unresolved imagery, the primary issue is distinguishing RSOs from stars and other objects (or aberrations) that may be present. In this project we explore a first-principles approach to identifying RSOs based on the nature and degree of streaking in an image. Different objects in an image will streak to different extents, depending on each object’s motion relative to the observer’s platform. It is this knowledge, combined with appropriate processing of the image, that allows effective discrimination between …

Student Insights Into Airline Pathway Program Participation, Lauren Burmester, Becky Lutte, Donald Seeterlin, Isabella Gianni

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Airlines and universities have increasingly established partnership agreements for the purpose of providing a clear path for employment for professional pilots. ERAU has multiple agreements with airlines and corporate flight departments. The purpose of this research project is to examine the motivation for students to join these pilot pathway programs. The authors will explore why students choose to join such programs and what barriers keep them from participating.

The research will be conducted in two phases. The first phase, supported by an internal grant, involves a comprehensive literature review, and the development of a survey instrument and interview protocol. The …

Marketing The Library: Using Business Students To Increase Library Patronage After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sandra L. Teft

Midwest Business Librarian Summit (MBLS)

No abstract provided.

Determining Critical Vehicle Connectivity In Connected Autonomous Vehicles Using Information Theory, Poorendra P. Ramlall

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The idea of connected autonomous vehicles, which can share information among themselves, offers the potential to enhance traffic efficiency. However, putting this technology into practice comes with challenges. Real-world challenges such as data throughput limitations can make it hard for vehicles to share information smoothly. Consequently, it becomes crucial to identify critical vehicle connectivity, which specifies the minimum number of connected vehicles required to maintain stable traffic flow. This paper proposes an information-theoretic metric that uses information flow among connected vehicles to identify critical vehicle connectivity. The model-free nature of information-theoretic tools eliminates the need for closed-form expressions of the …

Exploring Bio-Inspired Agent Behaviors From Ants For Robotic Swarm Fault Resilience, James Hand

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

As Multi-Agent Systems (MASs) become increasingly involved in every aspect of everyday life, the need to maintain reliability and resilience within these systems grows. However, there is a need for control schemes and agent behaviors that provide security against these threats while also avoiding large degradation in system performance as a tradeoff. Current research has covered a wide breadth of avenues and strategies that provide measurable resilience to faulted agents. However, these strategies often require group consensus, specialized observer agents, or identification of faulted agents, which can weaken overall system performance. This work presents an alternative solution through individual agent …

Assessing Resilience In Complex Systems Through Bifurcation Analysis: The Oregonator Autocatalytic Case Study, Rogelio Gracia Otalvaro

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Modern systems are becoming increasingly integrated and complex, which makes their management and understanding more challenging. This rising complexity raises the risk of system failures, emphasizing the importance of Resilience Engineering, a field dedicated to studying how systems perform under disruptions. However, the concept of resilience is interpreted in many ways, leading to a variety of measurement methods without a standardized approach. Additionally, conventional techniques like linear recovery models or probability-based methods often fall short when dealing with the nonlinearity and scale of contemporary systems. Bifurcation Analysis (BA) offers a mathematical approach to understanding how systems behave under changing conditions …

Leveraging Information Theory And Graph Theory To Monitor Communication Networks In Team Settings, Christine Portanova

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Effective communication is a critical component of successful collaboration in group projects and team settings. However, tracking and analyzing these communications can be challenging, especially in complex, multi-member teams. This paper explores an information-theoretic approach that leverages encoding techniques and graph theory to model and monitor communication networks within a university group project. By applying encoding methods, such as Huffman Coding, we will provide efficient data transmission and minimize misunderstandings through the results. Additionally, graph theory will be used to represent communication structures, identifying key nodes, information bottlenecks, and interaction patterns. MATLAB algorithms will help determine influential members and detect …

Stars: System Lifecycle Perspective Of An Autonomous Robotic Swarm Test Arena, Rasika Ravindra Kale, James Hand, Jonah Kohlmeyer, Dawson Jones, Nathan Geroge

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Swarm robotics presents a robust platform for investigating distributed control, adaptive behavior, and autonomous coordination within a system of systems framework. The Roving Swarm comprises 24 low-computation robots, emulating eusocial insect behavior through vision-sensing and decentralized decision-making. A key subsystem, the motion-sensing and interaction module, integrates real-time object detection, swarm coordination, and environmental responsiveness, employing Pixy2 vision sensors and Arduino 33 IoT controllers. The robots use DC motors for actuation, enabling structured rotational and translational motion, and demonstrate dynamic adaptability to environmental cues such as light intensity and peer movements. Designed for modularity and scalability, the system lifecycle of the …

The Impact Of Cybersecurity Research In Problem-Solving Through A Swarm Infiltration Exercise, Noa Teed

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The study explores the impact of a six-week cybersecurity course on undergraduate students' problem-solving approaches to complex challenges, employing interactive robotic swarm simulations as a practical testbed. While the exact algorithm implementation is beyond the scope of this experiment, it serves as a proof of concept. In this experiment, inspired by ants' chemical communication (CHC) profiles for colony member identification, the simulations utilize LED lights and a "handshake" algorithm, allowing robots to recognize "friendly" agents. This innovative approach aims to assess how formal education in cybersecurity bolsters students' analytical thinking and strategic development capabilities.

Conducted in two phases, the research …

Enhancing The Quality Of Biologically Inspired Solutions In A Classroom Design Task, Mikayla Dutkiewicz

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This study seeks to explore whether exposure to biologically inspired design can enhance the quality of undergraduate student engineering design solutions, with a specific focus on requirement fulfillment. Motivated by a gap in the literature regarding the direct impact of biologically inspired design on student outcomes, this research aims to address the lack of empirical evidence on the effectiveness of biologically inspired design as a pedagogical tool. While existing literature extensively explores the "how" of biologically inspired design implementation, such as frameworks and methodologies, there is limited understanding of its tangible effects on design quality for novice designers (students). This …

Innovative Smart Pfas Harness For Enhanced Construction Worker Safety, Anneliese Battle, James Moriarty, Shira Rachelson

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Fall hazards are the leading cause of fatalities on construction sites, accounting for a significant percentage of workplace accidents. Ensuring that fall prevention systems are in place is essential for reducing these risks and safeguarding the health and well-being of all on-site personnel. The current personal fall arrest system (PFAS) is effective but there is room for improvement. There is a strive to develop something that will propel the industry forward. This project proposes the development of an innovative smart PFAS integrated with wearable technology. Designed to enhance user safety and comfort, the harness will incorporate advanced data tracking capabilities …

Income Tax Problems Of Interest-Free Loans, William F. Jordan

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.

Qualified Plans For Partnerships Of Professional Corporations: After Garland What?, Thomas G. Tracy

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.

Tax Trends, E. S. Linett

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.

Structural Reinforcements For Electric Vehicles, Nuria Ignes

Defensive Publications Series

L&L Products offers structural reinforcements for electric vehicles that make BIW lighter, improving stiffness and crashworthiness. Products include composite body solutions as well as continuous composites systems.

Effect Of Adding Nano Carbon On Density, Porosity, And Water Absorption Of Nickel By Powder Metallurgy, Hadeel J. Aziz, Ibrahim K. Salman

Al-Bahir

Powder metallurgy is used to obtain high strength and good toughness pistons as an application in aviation, space, and parts. Carbon nanotube CNTs were used with reinforcement ratios of (0,5,10,15,20) wt.% to nickel base, and the device used for piston is a hydraulic piston. The process was carried out at 5 tons for 3 minutes, and the pistons were processed at variable temperatures of (900,950,1000,1050˚C) for 2 hours. XRD of the composites was examined and it was found that the dominant phase of nickel at Miller parameters (111), and of carbon nanotube at (002) with crystalline stability with different sintering …

Maslow Meets Healthcare: Optimizing Cna Training And Well-Being Through Hierarchical Needs During Covid-19, Jose D. Martinez Herrera

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

This study investigates the relationship between motivation, as defined by Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and the performance of Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) on the Illinois Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation Exam (INACE), with a focus on the impact of gender and motivation during the COVID-19 pandemic. CNAs must meet stringent certification standards, but recent declines in enrollment and increased demands on healthcare workers, exacerbated by the pandemic, necessitate a deeper exploration of factors influencing their success. This research employs a quantitative, non-experimental correlational design, analyzing data from 411 CNA students sampled from community colleges in Illinois. The study examines motivation across …

The Tech Audit Revolution: Navigating The Next 50 Years For Industry And Technology Leadership And An End-To-End Audit Framework For Ads, Search, And Content Platforms, Ramkumar Bharathan

Defensive Publications Series

The internal audit function stands at a pivotal juncture, undergoing a profound transformation from its traditional role in compliance to a strategic enabler of business value. For leading technology companies, the ability to safely deploy cutting-edge innovations is a core competitive differentiator, making a proactive and technologically advanced audit function essential for secure and rapid market entry. This paper presents a comprehensive, revolutionary audit framework designed to navigate the complex risk environment of the next five decades, addressing both current challenges and future technological frontiers. This framework provides a deep dive into auditing emerging technologies such as Quantum Computing, …

Artificial Intelligence, Special Education, And The Law: Risks, Rewards, And Opportunities For Leadership, Thomas A. Mayes

Journal of Business & Technology Law

No abstract provided.

Robocops To The Rescue? Addressing Police Misconduct, Clovia Hamilton, Scott J. Shackelford

Journal of Business & Technology Law

No abstract provided.

The Art And Science Of Naval Warfare: Essays In Memory Of Wayne P. Hughes Jr., Mie Augier, Sean F. X. Barrett, William F. Mullen Iii

Newport Papers

Retired Navy captain Wayne P. Hughes left an indelible mark on the U.S. Navy after a lifetime of service. The author of Fleet Tactics was outspoken in his determination to better the service to which he dedicated his life, throughout his Navy career and carrying through to his time teaching at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Following his passing on 3 December 2019 at the age of eighty-nine, Hughes's colleagues, students, and friends gathered virtually in June 2021—on what would have been his ninetieth birthday—to discuss his career, fleet tactics, and the lasting impact of his work. Collected …