Digital Commons Network^™

Segmentation With Artificial Intelligence And Automated Calculation Of The Corpus Callosum Index In Multiple Sclerosis, Selahattin Demirbas, Kamil Karaali, Yalcın Albayrak, Nurdan Fidan

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To determine the corpus callosum index (CCI) differences between chronic phase multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and healthy individuals and to evaluate the corpus callosum segmentation in MS patients using artificial intelligence technologies. The CCI can be reliably measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and has been proposed as a possible marker of brain atrophy in MS. Methods: In this study, 150 MS patients (disease duration 12.6±5.9 years) and 150 healthy control subjects were scanned. Corpus callosum index was manually measured from the mid-sagittal slices on MRI. A deep learning architecture-based U-Net model was used for automatic corpus callosum …

Building Services Engineering May/June 2025

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Techno-Geopolitics And Semi-Conductor Chokepoints: Beyond The Us-China Wto Dispute, Han-Wei Liu, Ching-Fu Lin

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Much ink has been spilled on the US-China tech and trade war, particularly the role of US export controls in containing China and preserving America’s tech dominance. Less attention, however, has been paid to other critical nodes in the global semiconductor supply chain – Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and the Netherlands – which we coin as ‘chokepoint economies’. Taiwan alone produces over 90% of the world’s most advanced chips, vital to the digital age and the future of AI in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Using Taiwan as a case study, this paper shows how chokepoint economies navigate competing pressures amid …

Mitigating Nonlinear Impairments In High-Speed Optical Communication Systems Via Volterra Nonlinear Equalizer, Safa Jabbar Mohammed, Jalil A. Hamadamin

Polytechnic Journal

This paper presents an in-depth investigation into applying a frequency domain Volterra series nonlinear equalizer (FD-VNLE) to mitigate nonlinear impairments in optical communication systems operating at high speeds. The study aims to address the issues presented by nonlinear effects, specifically self-phase modulation (SPM), which significantly degrades system performance at higher power levels. A comprehensive mathematical model of the FD-VNLE was developed to provide theoretical insight, while its implementation was carried out using MATLAB co-simulated with OptiSystem. The performance of the 40 Gbps dual-polarization quadrature phase shift keying (DP-QPSK) system was rigorously evaluated, focusing on critical performance metrics like bit error …

Capacity Investment In The Presence Of Correlated Demand And Production Resource Uncertainties And Its Implications For Financial Hedging, Onur Boyabatli, Guiyun Feng

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

In manufacturing firms, besides demand uncertainty, capacity investment decisions may also be subject to uncertainty in the availability of a production resource (e.g., budget or commodity component) which may become constraining for manufacturing. When the production resource uncertainty is tied to a financial index (e.g., asset or commodity price), the firm can enter into financial hedging contracts at the time of capacity investment to engineer this uncertainty. Our paper characterizes the optimal capacity investment and hedging decisions and examines how production resource uncertainty impacts the firm’s decisions, profitability, and the value of hedging. We identify three key drivers of these …

A Proposed Mathematical Framework For Fuzzy It Service Management (F-Itsm) And Neutrosophic It Service Management (N-Itsm), Takaaki Fujita

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Fuzzy sets, rough sets, hyperrough sets, intuitionistic fuzzy sets, neutrosophic sets, plithogenic sets , and other frameworks for handling uncertainty are under active research every day. These concepts can model a wide range of real-world phenomena and are frequently investigated to facilitate more efficient decision-making. IT Service Management is a systematic approach to designing, delivering, managing, and improving IT services in alignment with organizational objectives. In this paper, we explore the Mathematical Frameworks for Fuzzy IT Service Management (F-ITSM) and Neutrosophic IT Service Management (N-ITSM), which combine these uncertainty-based ideas with IT Service Management practices.

A Neutrosophic And Q-Rung Orthopair Fuzzy Sets Approach For Desertification Susceptibility Mapping: A Case Study In Matrouh, Egypt, Nabil M. Abdelaziz, Khalid A. Eldrandaly, Amira M. Fawzy, Gehan A. Fouad, Safa Al-Saeed

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

This study introduces an innovative approach to desertification susceptibility mapping by integrating q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets (Q-ROFS) with a neutrosophic environment. Conducted in Matrouh, Egypt, the research quantifies desertification risk through advanced modeling techniques that address uncertainty and non-linearity in environmental data. The Q-ROFS framework enhances risk prediction by capturing complex relationships among desertification indicators. Neutrosophic logic, meanwhile, effectively addresses imprecision and ambiguity. The resulting susceptibility map clearly distinguishes between vulnerable and non-vulnerable regions, offering valuable guidance for policymakers and planners. The analysis revealed that approximately 79.98% of the study area falls under moderate susceptibility, 14.27% under high susceptibility, and …

Evaluating Disaster Relief In Supply Chains Using A Neutrosophic Mcdm Approach, Nada A. Nabeeh

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Disaster-prone regions and affected areas encounter persistent challenges in maintaining supply chain continuity due to environmental uncertainties and infrastructure disruptions. Effective supply chain disaster management (SCDM) is essential for relief disaster disruptions, specifically in upstream processes and functions within the humanitarian supply chain. The integration of advanced technologies like the metaverse and Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods supports strategic planning and enhances resilience. This study presents a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) proposed approach for disaster relief evaluation in supply chain management. The proposed model integrates Interval-Valued Neutrosophic Numbers (IVNNs) to manage uncertainty and ambiguity inherent in disaster various criteria which are often …

A Critical Evaluation Of The Criticisms Against Neutrosophic Statistical Methods, Muhammad Aslam, Abdulrahman Alaita, Florentin Smarandache

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Neutrosophic statistical analysis has gained attention for incorporating the degree of indeterminacy when analyzing imprecise and interval data under uncertainty–-an aspect often overlooked by classical statistics, fuzzy statistical analysis, and interval statistics. Recently, critical discussions have emerged regarding the use and applications of neutrosophic statistics, with some questioning its usefulness and validity. In this paper, we present a critical assessment of the existing literature, focusing on areas where misunderstandings and misinterpretations of neutrosophic statistical methods have occurred. We also examine flawed comparisons made between the results of neutrosophic statistics and interval statistics. Furthermore, substantial issues have been identified in the …

Radiation-Induced Cardiotoxicity In Hypertensive Salt-Sensitive Rats: A Feasibility Study, Dayeong An, Alison Kriegel, Suresh N. Kumar, Heather A. Himburg, Brian Fish, S. Klawikowski, Daniel B. Rowe, Marek Lenarczyk, John Baker, El Sayed H. Ibrahim

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

Radiation therapy (RT) plays a vital role in managing thoracic cancers, though it can lead to adverse effects, including significant cardiotoxicity. Understanding the risk factors like hypertension in RT is important for patient prognosis and management. A Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) female rat model was used to study hypertension effect on RT-induced cardiotoxicity. Rats were fed a high-salt diet to induce hypertension and then divided into RT and sham groups. The RT group received 24 Gy of whole-heart irradiation. Cardiac function was evaluated using MRI and blood pressure measurements at baseline, 8 weeks and 12 weeks post-RT. Histological examination was performed …

From Unmotivated To Motivated: Hermeneutic Inquiries Of Experience Of Community-Based Bsw Students In An Innovative Internship Seminar, Hyungjung Shin, Rana Hong, Philip Young P. Hong

Social Work: School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Other Works

Providing a pathway for disadvantaged community college students in social work education aligns with the goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion in social work education. This hermeneutic phenomenological study aims to explore the experiences of an innovative internship seminar incorporating an evidence-based workforce training model, Transforming Impossible into Possible (TIP), in a community college-based bachelor’s of social work program in South Korea. Of the 59 students who attended the TIP-infused social work internship seminar course in Spring 2018, 11 students participated in repeated in-depth interviews. The results revealed the themes of perception changes in self, others, and the lifeworld and …

The Benefits And Pitfalls Of Public Private Partnerships: Case Study Of The Suez Canal Container Terminal, Egypt, Magda Elswesy

Theses and Dissertations

The study explores the public-private partnerships (PPPs) in constructing, managing, and operating container terminals in Egypt. It examines the benefits the public sector gains from such collaborations and the pitfalls that can be mitigated to foster more effective institutional cooperation. The study specifically focuses on enhancing Egypt's marine container terminals through these partnerships, emphasizing the potential use of growing technology to enable equipment automation. It also highlights concerns regarding the risk of mismanagement of Egyptian terminals, arising from insufficient expected volume to ensure appropriate profitability, especially with the opening of new terminals. The study adopts a qualitative methodology and presents …

In Vitro Evaluation Of A Novel Computationally Designed Anticancer Peptide In Ovarian Cancer Cell Models, Basma A. Shaala

Theses and Dissertations

Ovarian cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality among

women, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic agents with improved selectivity and

reduced toxicity. Anticancer peptides (ACPs) have emerged as promising candidates

due to their ability to selectively target cancer cells. In this study, the anticancer activity

of a computationally designed ACP was evaluated in vitro using the SKOV-3 ovarian

cancer cell line, with HEK cells employed as a non-cancerous control.

Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay, and cytotoxicity was further confirmed

by the trypan blue exclusion method. Apoptosis and necrosis were analyzed using

Annexin V-FITC/Propidium …

The Role Of Swarm Intelligence Systems In Shaping Urban Development Policies, Sudaff Mohammed, Wahda Shuker Al-Hinkawi, Nada Abdulmueen Hasan

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

Swarm intelligence is a nature-inspired complex system that draws from the behaviours of social creatures such as ants and birds. This system functions through simple behavioural rules enacted by autonomous, intelligent agents. Existing literature indicates that swarm intelligence possesses a wide range of principles and characteristics derived from the theories of Biomimicry, complex adaptive systems, and parametric and generative design. While the previous studies have intensively addressed the computational aspects of intelligence, a comprehensive conceptual framework is essential for analysing complex urban forms and structures. Therefore, this research develops and applies a conceptual model of swarm intelligence by examining several …

Ai-Powered Education: A Cross-Country Exploration Of Ai Literacy Among Hospitality And Tourism Educators, Anderson Ngelambong, Siao Fui Wong, Silverina Kibat, Nur'hidayah Che Ahmat, Noel Scott

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

While there is a growing acknowledgement of the importance of AI literacy in educational settings, there is a notable scarcity of specific studies focusing on the AI literacy levels of hospitality and tourism educators in the Asian region. Notably, this study explores the AI literacy levels and integration of AI technologies among hospitality and tourism educators. We interviewed 25 educators from Malaysia and China using a cross-country qualitative study approach to evaluate their mastery of AI tools, their integration of AI into their teaching, and their challenges. The results revealed notable differences in AI literacy between the two groups, with …

Advancing Fake News Detection With Graph Neural Network And Deep Learning, Haji Gul, Feras Al-Obeidat, Muhammad Wasim, Adnan Amin, Fernando Moreira

All Works

In the modern era of digital technology, the rapid distribution of news via social media platforms substantially contributes to the propagation of false information, presenting challenges in upholding the accuracy and reliability of information. This study presents an updated approach that utilizes graph neural networks (GNNs) alongside with advanced deep learning techniques to improve the identification of false information. In contrast to traditional approaches that primarily rely on analyzing text and assessing the credibility of sources, our methodology utilizes the structural information of news propagation networks. This allows for a detailed comprehension of the interconnections and patterns that are indicative …

A Novel Fractional Order Model For Analyzing Counterterrorism Operations And Mitigating Extremism, Mutaz Mohammad, Isa Abdullahi Baba, Evren Hincal, Fathalla A. Rihan

All Works

This study examines the profound impact of terrorism on individuals and society by developing a fractional-order mathematical model to analyze and enhance counterterrorism efforts. The model accounts for the persistent and complex nature of extremist behavior, particularly emphasizing the importance of preventing violent extremism before it escalates into terrorism. Real-world data on terrorist activities in Nigeria – specifically from the Boko Haram insurgency – was used to calibrate and validate the model, ensuring its relevance and accuracy. The model reveals that the basic reproduction number (R0) plays a decisive role in determining the long-term success of counterterrorism strategies. Numerical simulations …

Chronic, Battery-Free, Fully Implantable Multimodal Spinal Cord Stimulator For Pain Modulation In Small Animal Models, Allie J Widman, Taron Bashar, Alex Burton, David Marshall Clausen, Prashant Gupta, Drew K Wolf, Jakayla Folarin-Hines, Maria Payne, John A Rogers, Kathleen W Meacham, Robert W Gereau, Philipp Gutruf

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for chronic pain management is an invasive therapy involving surgical implantation of electrodes into spinal epidural space. While the clinical value and mechanistic action of the therapy is debated considerably in recent years, preclinical chronic studies employing rodent models can provide invaluable insights regarding the balance between efficacy and complications as well as mechanistic understanding of SCS therapy. However, current rodent compatible devices require tethered power delivery or bulky batteries, severely limiting the ability to probe long-term efficacy of SCS therapy. This work introduces a tether-free, small-footprint, fully implantable, battery-free SCS device compatible with rodent models, …

Audiologic Management Of Individuals With Advanced Cochlear Otosclerosis: A Systematic Review, Sophie Silvermintz

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This systematic review evaluates the efficacy and outcomes of cochlear implantation (CI) in adults diagnosed with far-advanced cochlear otosclerosis. This synthesis of audiological outcomes, surgical complexities, and patient-reported quality-of-life (QoL) measures is the first systematic analysis of peer-reviewed studies on this topic. By completing a comprehensive analysis of CI's viability in managing severe-to-profound mixed or sensorineural hearing loss attributed to CO, it is anticipated that CI will be considered an option for persons experiencing the significant communication challenges presented by CO when traditional approaches to management have been ineffective.

Eleven peer-reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria, examining key outcomes including …

Understanding How Genetic Mutations Induce Oligodendrocyte Progenitors To Become Cancer Cells, Dennis Huang

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Gliomas are the most devastating adult brain tumors characterized by poor survival rate and limited options for treatment. Previous studies have shown that they are very heterogeneous and can be further sub-classified based on their transcriptional signature and the presence of specific mutations. One such subtype, is the “proneural glioma”, which is characterized by the enrichment in oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) transcripts and mutations in genes encoding for the tumor suppressor P53 (Trp53) and for Platelet Derived Grow Factor (PDGF) signaling. Since OPCs are the most abundant proliferative population in the adult brain, in this …

How Argentina Won The 2022 Fifa Men's World Cup: A Data Story, Aniruddha Parthasarathy

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This project analyzes Argentina’s 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup win using open-source football (soccer) data. The project evaluates the team’s performance at a micro-level across three domains: without possessing the ball, possessing the ball and the team’s in-game management tactics. A statistical framework, i.e., multiple linear regression modeling, was used to identify the five key defensive actions influencing the Argentinian team’s intensity of pressure applied, and visualized by heatmaps and time-segmented plots. More specifically, an Expected Threat (xT) analysis quantified the threat or danger from passes and progressive carries (moving the ball at least 10 meters), revealing that Lionel Messi’s …

East Asian And “Extraordinary”: Intersecting Racial And Musical Identities In The Classical Music Solo Career, Audrey Chen

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

A performer’s success within the classical music industry is reliant not only on musical merit but also on extramusical factors like race, gender, class, and culture, all of which influence a musician’s upbringing. For East Asian musicians, distinctions of merit can be accompanied by racialized and often paradoxical narratives about Asian identity that essentialize their performance, personality, and background. This dissertation examines how Asian and Asian-American performers of Western classical music navigate this interplay of racial and musical identity within their careers, with a specific focus on string players and pianists.

Chapter 2 introduces five major racialized narratives used to …

Excitons And Polaritons In Two-Dimensional Materials Heterostructures - Applications As Qubits, Time Crystals, And Superfluids, Gabriel Pimenta Martins

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation is concerned with exploring the properties and applications of excitons and polaritons in two-dimensional (2D) materials and heterostructures. It focuses on their potential to form qubits, time crystals, and superfluids. The work is motivated by the unique electronic and optical properties of 2D materials—specifically, their ability to host strongly bound excitons and hybrid light-matter quasiparticles known as polaritons. By exploiting a combination of theoretical modeling and numerical simulations, this work examines the behavior of these quasiparticles under various physical conditions, including strain-induced pseudomagnetic fields, optical microcavities, and periodic external potentials.

The first part of this dissertation is devoted …

Energy Conversion Materials: Computational Design Of Electrocatalysts Toward Sustainable Energy Applications, Courtney M. Brea

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

As the global-scale need for sustainable energy technologies emerges due to anthropogenic climate change, electrocatalysis plays a crucial role in facilitating many sustainable processes. Several heterogenous cathode materials can perform different electrochemical activities using water, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide to deliver renewable electricity and value-added chemicals. By using the density functional theory method, it is possible to explore the structural and electronic properties that govern a catalysts’ activity and selectivity. In this thesis, we start by exploring 48 reconstructed transition metal dichalcogenides edges (MX₂, M = Mo, W; X = S, Se, Te) for carbon dioxide reduction reaction …

Stereotype Engineering, Ian Olasov

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

I offer an account of a novel variety of conceptual engineering, which I call stereotype engineering. Someone engineers a stereotype when they work to change the typicality effects associated with a category or expression (performance on goodness-of-example tasks, feature listing tasks, and accuracy rates and response times in recognition and retrieval tasks), without necessarily changing the concept of that category or the semantic value of the expression. I offer a number of examples of stereotype engineering in popular discourse – from rape activism to expansive uses of “white supremacy” and “ethnic cleansing,” to the hashtags #BlackGirlMagic and #MyNYPD, to advocacy …

From Tarmac To Timetable: A Data-Driven Study Of Airline Delay Performance In Nigeria, Kelechi V. Iwuagwu

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This capstone project investigates the patterns, causes, and impacts of flight delays in the Nigerian aviation sector from January 2024 to January 2025. Utilizing a dataset containing flight details—including scheduled and actual departure/arrival times, routes, and airline information—the study employs advanced data analytics and visualization techniques to uncover critical insights. The research highlights discrepancies between scheduled and actual flight performance, identifies delay patterns across airlines and timeframes, and explores the ripple effects of delays on subsequent flights.

Furthermore, Nigerian passengers frequently express frustrations over flight delays, cancellations, and poor communication from airlines, yet no publicly available data systematically documents these …

Counter-Hegemony In The Captive State: Recasting Katrina’S Carceral Legacy Through Conjuncture, Joseph S. Muratore

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis traces the historical development and contemporary manifestations of carceral power in Louisiana, arguing that racialized systems of control—from slavery and convict leasing to mass incarceration—have been sustained through shifting alliances of political and economic elites. Using The Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC) and its exhibit Captive State: Louisiana and the Making of Mass Incarceration as a foundational timeline, this study demonstrates how Bourbonism forged a regional bloc that institutionalized racial domination through incarceration and labor exploitation, later reconstituted through neoliberal policies of abandonment, privatization, and militarization. I chose to focus on Hurricane Katrina because its aftermath reflects many …

Extracellular Matrix Repair And Organization Of Chronic Infected Diabetic Wounds Treated With Methacrylated Chitosan-Based Hydrogels, Nic D. Leipzig, Shahrzad Abri, Hannah A. Durr, Samuel D. Salinas

University Research

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a multifactorial medical problem that require multifaceted approaches for effective healing. Most research on DFU healing has concentrated on promoting wound closure, with less emphasis on the quality of repaired tissue. This is problematic, however, since quality of the repaired tissues can have potential to improve wound healing outcomes and limit re-ulceration. If more functionally active dermis replaces the lost tissue, this can effectively maximize strength, organization, and overall structure of the plantar surface. Additionally, DFUs commonly show multi-strain infection, which further exacerbates the non-healing status of these wounds. Treatment of chronic wounds can be …

Sla Evaluation And Composition In Reconfigurable Cloud-Based Services, Michael Iannelli

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Given the business model of offering data and computing services in a cloud setting, a major question arises: How do the services of one cloud provider compare to those of others? With the ubiquitous use of smartphones and tablets, the ability of a cloud provider to support QoS and client mobility becomes paramount. This research proposes a methodology for evaluating service-level agreements (SLAs) between cloud providers and their consumers, with a particular focus on dynamic SLA composition to adapt to changes in the application requirements and the external environment—such as traffic surges, security threats, or evolving business models.

In one …

Creative Coding Communities: Exploring The Relationship Between Scratch Use And Child Well-Being, Nikita Khalid

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This international study assessed the relationship between the use of Scratch, the world's largest coding community for children, and child well-being. Specifically, the study focused on the presence of well-being indicators in the RITEC-8 framework (RITEC, 2024) including creativity, relationships, competence, and autonomy within Scratch users’ behaviors. The participants (N = 17,315) included children aged between 8 and 16 who used Scratch in 2023 and came from 29 countries. The study examined trends in Scratchers’ behaviors including project creation, sharing, studio curation, and socialization based on their country of origin, gender and age. The data were used to construct user …